INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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© 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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CONTENTS
May 2018 VOL. 11 • ISSUE 9
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association
24 Tabatha Sellers Faith, Art and Horse
Cover Photo by: Melissa Nichols PAGE 10 Master Gardener
PAGE 30 Lettuce
PAGE 12 Jack Payne
PAGE 34 Merrel Bros
PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 36 John Dicks
PAGE 16 Tasty Tomatoes
PAGE 40 Activity
PAGE 18 Kathleen
PAGE 41 A Closer Look
PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 42 PCSO
PAGE 26 Literary Time Machine
PAGE 45 PCCW
PAGE 29 News Briefs
Hey Readers!
Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker and a FREE In The Field T-Shirt. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
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InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner! INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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
PAGE 28 Endangered Species
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P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL. 33831-9005
May
2018
Ken Sherrouse 13475 Moore Rd Lakeland, FL 33809 (863) 698-1834 kensherrouse@yahoo.com Scott Shoupe 6130 Allen Lane Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 581-7593 Scott_shoupe@hotmail. com
3305 US Highway 92 E Lakeland, FL 33801-9623 (863) 665-5088 J. B. Wynn PO Box 197 Alturas, FL 33820 (863) 581-3255 jbwynn29@gmail.com Standing Committee Chairs: Membership- J.B. Wynn Events- Kevin Fussell Trade Show- Bridget Stice Rodeo- Fred Waters PO Box 463 Alturas, FL 33820 (863) 559-7808 Website – Adam Norman 2115 West Pipkin Rd Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 944-9293 Adamnorman1977@gmail. com Cattlewomen – President, Megan Atkinson 3970 Gerber Dairy Rd Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 559-1228 Megamess007@yahoo. com Extension – Bridget Stice PO Box 9005, Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL 33831 (863) 519-1048 bccarlis@ufl.edu Sheriff’s Dept. – Sgt. Paul Wright 1891 Jim Keen Blvd. Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 557-1741 pw5281@polksheriff.org Warner University – Cameron Cato 13895 Hwy 27 Lake Wales, FL 33859 (352) 561-6459 James.cato@warner.edu
Dave Tomkow WWW. ININTHE FIELD MM AGAZINE.COM WWW. THE FIELD AGAZINE.COM
As our favorite season ends, we would like to thank those who have supported our industry.
Our stand is now closed, but will reopen this summer when our vegetable crops are ready for harvest. Check back between late May and early June and order your black eyes, conks, zippers and okra. Thank you! Carl, Dee Dee and Dustin Grooms NEW STAND LOCATION: 5212 Drane Field Rd. | 813.478.3486 or 813.754.4852 | FancyFarms.com
Prepare Now. Sign up for an On-Farm Readiness Review.
Are you FSMA compliant? The ďŹ rst Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule (PSR) compliance dates have arrived. Very large farms with average annual sales exceeding $500,000 in the last three years were required to be compliant with the PSR as of Jan. 26, 2018, with the exception of the water requirements. Sign up now to request a Free On-Farm Readiness Review, offered in partnership by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and University of Florida IFAS. The OFRR is an opportunity to receive on-farm education and technical assistance to help farms align practices with the PSR regulatory requirements.
For more information on FSMA and to sign up for an OFRR, visit FreshFromFlorida.com/FSMA or call (863) 578-1900.
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STAFF Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Melissa Nichols Taeler Dupre Chandler Workman
Letter from the Editor I’ve written about this before, but some things bear repeating. We need our young people to be prepared to take over the business of growing our nations food. When you see local 4-H and FFA students working on projects in the community, take time to let them know how much you appreciate them and their hard work. These organizations and many others have partnered for years to develop and plan educational programs to increase the agricultural knowledge of our youth. Increasing the interest our youth have on knowing how food is produced and where it comes from should be of the greatest importance. They need to know that they can have a viable and sustainable career in agriculture. We’ve all heard the saying, “children absorb information like a sponge,” so let’s
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
start now by supporting our youth to become the next generation of food system leaders, farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs, agronomists, extension agents, educators, scientists, policy makers, and the list goes on. Cultivating the education of our youth will ensure a sustainable food system in the future. Help us spread the word about agriculture by visiting our advertisers. They allow us to continue to cover what is growing.
Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Polk County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Polk County Catllemen’s Association. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
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Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
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OUR PROFITS ARE YOUR PAYDAY When you do business with Farm Credit, you are a member of a cooperative. When we do well, you do well. And we’ve been doing well for over 100 years. LOANS FOR: • • • •
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I trust all is well. We are still praying for the daily rains to come, but I am very thankful for the few showers we have received recently. This time of year many of us are busy with our kids finishing up the school year and many of you have graduating seniors that will be embarking on their next adventure in life: college or a real job. As summer is upon us, the Florida Cattlemen’s Association is gearing up for their Annual Convention & Allied Member Trade Show. This year’s convention will be held June 18-21 at the Omni Resort in nearby ChampionsGate, FL. This is an opportunity for you to fellowship with Cattlemen and Cattlewomen from across the State. Even if you cannot attend the whole week, I would encourage you to make a point to attend the trade shows and some of the activities.
more information, please check out the Polk County Youth Fair website at pcyf.net. Also, many of our members have children or family participating in the Florida FFA Convention. The 90th State Convention will be held June 11-15 at the Caribe Royal in Orlando. Congratulations to Blair Buchanon of Kathleen High School for being selected as a finalist for the Feeder Steer Proficiency and all the other finalists from Polk County. We wish you luck at the State Convention. May God Bless and remember to eat BEEF,
Carlton Taylor
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
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The deadline for the Polk County Youth Commercial Market Steer Entry Form is May 25. For
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is proud to congratulate
Madison Keim
Madyson Keim is preparing herself to become an effective and influential part of society. Before coming to Kathleen High School, Keim attended Lake Gibson Middle School where she was also active in its FFA program. She is currently a reporter for Kathleen Senior FFA and was previously secretary for the group. She has not only participated but has won state championships in the Forestry, Nursery & Landscape and Aquaculture Career Development Events. Individually, in Forestry Keim excelled, winning most events at the District level and has been high individual the past three years at the County Nursery and Landscape Competition. She has also shined at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and Creed Speaking Leadership Development Events.
She has shown and raised market hogs for the Florida State Fair for the past six years and has won many showmanship and Champion awards with the hogs. Not only is she a star in the FFA organization, but also in academics. She has received her FNGLA Certification and was chosen as the 9th grader of the year for the Natural Resource Academy. 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
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Master Gardener
The Border By Debra Howell, Florida Master Gardener UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Borders are plantings used to separate the gardens from the lawn. Does your yard need a little more structure, possibly to delineate your planting beds or the beautiful specimen plants? Plants normally considered border plants are often lowgrowing ground huggers such as verbena and mondo grass. They may be liriope, dianthus, Dusty Miller, pansies, petunias, sun hosta, cock’s comb begonia, alyssum, duranta gold mound or Mexican heather. You may also wish to intersperse your flowering borders with edibles such as oregano, mint, salvia and nasturtiums. Border plants can be used to outline and soften features such as sidewalks, driveways, patios and specialty gardens, like your vegetable plot. When selecting your border plants, you want to think about ease of maintenance, color scheme, bloom season, form and scale. According to the University of Florida publication, “Your Florida Guide to Bedding Plants,” the shape of borders will greatly influence the character of your landscape. Curved or free-flowing beds and borders are restful to the eye and create a relaxing feeling, which contributes to an informal natural effect. Sydney Park Brown, Extension Associate Professor in Consumer Horticulture, with the University of Florida Plant City Campus, encourages the gardener to “actually negotiate the curves and angles of the planting beds with your mower and adjust your borders where it is difficult or cumbersome to steer it.”
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You may shape the borders using a garden hose to create straight or curving lines according to your whims and needs. Try to practice “succession planting,” which
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is planting border plants with varying bloom schedules throughout the year to ensure flower continuity. A big consideration for selecting border plants is how much or how little sunlight they will receive, and whether the location is high and dry, or will the site remain moist. Since you will probably be using borders throughout the yard, you need to select plants that are appropriate for the light conditions in the different areas of the landscape. You will want to determine how many hours of sunlight each area receives, and then keep this in mind when you visit your favorite garden center. You may wish to include border installation in your landscape scheme for your newly built home, but you will probably desire to make the borders the final step as you might conceivably increase the size of the planting beds. The borders are going to be one of the lowest levels in your garden’s “scaffolding” of groundcovers, borders, vines, shrubs, specimen plants and trees. Creating a scaffolding of vegetation in your yard provides food, shelter and nesting for birds, and homes with a lush ecosystem for other creatures. By beginning with low-growing plants and increasing the height of your plant choices from lowest to highest, one behind another, you will achieve the scaffolding effect that is not only visually interesting, but provides for wildlife, as well. Frequently, gardeners elect to use border grasses to outline their garden plots or as edging along hardscapes such as driveways and sidewalks. Border grasses commonly used are mondo grass and liriope. These two grasses are commonly confused. We determine from the University of Florida IFAS Gardening Solutions publication on “Border Grasses” that liriope has either WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
variegated or solid-colored foliage. The leaves of liriope are wider than the leaves of mondo grass, and the mondo grasses bear smaller fruit. In the spring, liriope will bear attractive, small purple flowers. Mondo grass, often referred to as Aztec grass or monkey grass, ranges in height from 2 to 24 inches in height, but is usually a ground-hugger. It has foliage of a deep green, black or variegated nature, and in addition to being great border plants, are also used as a lawn alternative or ground cover. These grasses are low-maintenance, but may benefit from a mowing or cutting back in early spring. Plant borders are a distinct way to define the areas between your garden beds and the lawn. These plants will supply the definition between the lawn and features in your yard such as your patios, driveways, gazebos, outbuildings, pools or even your vegetable garden. Once you are armed with all the different information and needs for the areas in which you will plant your borders, you can enter your garden center, select your plants based on their sun or shade requirements as listed on the tag included with the plant, and then plant them in the proper locations in your yard. Remember,
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 volunteerdriven 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
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you will achieve more success in your landscaping endeavors if the plants you select are appropriate to your garden sites and conditions: right place, right plant.
Gene drive: A “retired” scientist continues to fight HLB
UF President Kent Fuchs with Gene Albrigo
By Jack Payne
Gene Albrigo tried to retire eight years ago. But citrus greening won’t let him.
major university. Gene replied that he couldn’t be happy without having the industry relationships that he had in Florida.
So for years, he has commuted from his retirement home in Daytona to Lake Alfred, where he sleeps a couple of nights a week in a friend’s guest bedroom.
Those relationships deepened over ensuing decades as generations of Gene’s students graduated and became the backbone of the Florida citrus industry. That connection with industry also deepened as he developed tools such as the online citrus flowering monitor that he continues to support with research and advisories. It’s being used to improve the timing of sprays for the Asian citrus psyllid.
Gene is among a particularly active group of emeritus faculty at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. When you ask the old-timers why they’re spending their golden years doing jobs they were supposed to have retired from, they don’t talk about how great the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is. They get to that later. Instead, they say they feel a powerful tug to keep contributing solutions at the moment of greatest challenge for Florida citrus.
In fact, industry helped him make that tool much more valuable than he had originally envisioned. Gene was just trying to predict flowering and give growers advance notice of bloom. But when Joe Davis, Jr., looked at the model, he suggested it could be used to predict crop yield. Coupled with mature tree yield potential, the flowering monitor model turned out to be remarkably accurate at such crop forecasts.
Gene has done more than his share for citrus. So much that he was inducted into the Citrus Hall of Fame in Lakeland in March.
So it was no surprise to see industry leaders support Gene’s nomination and testify in a video tribute at the Citrus Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
After 49 working and retirement years at CREC, Gene said he’s still getting ideas for research on the HLB problem. “It’s kind of hard to turn that off and watch waves at the beach,” Gene says.
The Hall singles out extraordinary men and women for their contributions to citrus. At the same time, the acceptance speeches and videos remind us that none of the inductees acted alone, that their achievements were made possible by relationships with colleagues.
Emeritus faculty, such as Gene, exemplify the all-hands-ondeck approach IFAS is taking in tackling the challenge of HLB. Virtually everyone at Lake Alfred is contributing, as are many at the Southwest Florida REC in Immokalee the Indian River REC in Ft. Pierce, and in Gainesville. Gene’s plan when he “retired” in 2010 was to move to Daytona with his wife and enjoy his golden years by the shore. But he hasn’t completely left Lake Alfred to this day for the same reason he didn’t leave 30 years ago.
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Jim Syvertsen, a friend and CREC colleague who nominated Gene for the Citrus Hall of Fame, remembers asking Gene back then why he hadn’t applied for a desirable job at another
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Gene is part of the remarkable progress IFAS has made in keeping trees productive in the HLB age. But Gene recognizes that we’re not where we need to be yet. If he thought the work was done, he just might retire for real.
Jack Payne is the University of Florida’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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TAMPA BAY FISHING REPORT MAY/JUNE 2018 Capt. Woody Gore May and June are great months to catch fish, but you might want to plan early mornings or late evenings to avoid paying the price that comes with summertime fishing. These are simple things called heat exhaustion and sunburn. Since everything will be eating this month, it’s easy to lose track of time, forgetting to use sunblock or take precautions to avoid the rigors of summertime fishing. So plan your trips now and take advantage of our great summertime fishing.
Develop a Night Fishing Plan: To escape the sweltering summer
heat, as well as recreational boaters and jet skiers, anglers often prowl the coolness of night looking for some quite fishing spots. Early evening and night fishing are attractive to many because of the quietness and it can be loads of fishing fun. If you think this it’s something you’re interested in, then hook up the boat and hit the water for something a little different. Night fishing often presents the opportunity to catch some nice fish while enjoying some peaceful comfortable time on the water. As the sun begins to set, fish, like most wildlife, come to be increasingly nocturnal, especially during the summer. This means those trophy size beauties that lay dormant on deep structure, during the day, might be prowling the shallows after the sun goes down. Our bay, canals, rivers and creeks are saturated with docks, and many with lights. Well guess what? Structure and dock light does attract bait fish, therefore why not take advantage of this “fish in a barrel” scenario and use it to your advantage. So if you’re planning on fishing at night, hopefully you don’t go unprepared. Plan your trip, and learn the area you intend to fish. Put together a fishing plan by identifying the important things you should know before it gets dark, shallow areas, and unlighted obstructions. Since nighttime is normally the soundless part of the day, you must be “Quiet.” Fish staging around docks tend to acclimate themselves to the noiselessness. But remember, any loud or sudden sound can send them darting for cover. Veteran anglers drift with the current, pole or use a trolling motor (on low) to approach a safe casting distance, making certain they never crowd their target. As you approach your target, study the water and current, the layout, and lighted areas looking for shadows. Look carefully and often you’ll see the fish dashing in and out feeding on passing baits. Here’s where patience pays off, wait and watch because it gives you time to identify their feeding pattern. This can make or break a spot, as proper bait and lure presentation is vital. When using artificial’s present them from the same direction as the current, active currents bring food to waiting fish, so it makes sense that your lure should come from the same direction. Cast your lure up current into the shadows, twitching it through the light line into the light.
Snook (Season Closed May 1, 2018): Snook fishing in the summer is almost a given. Practically every angler is looking to catch them and given the amount of fishing pressure, especially during weekends, it is a wonder they bite at all. Practically any mangrove shoreline holds snook provided there are bait and structure. Terrific ambush feeders, Snook love lying in wait along shady mangrove root systems. Rocky shores and adjacent sand bars are also good places to investigate. Early morning flats produce well using topwater lures, but remember live greenbacks and cut bait also produce. Redfish: June produces some good redfish days around the grass flats
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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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and mangroves. Heavy pushes and mullet schools are key factors in finding moving or feeding redfish. Finding redfish means covering plenty WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
of water, but once located they do not venture too far if there is food present. Keep in mind as long as there is food there are fish. Live greenbacks and dollar-size pinfish are good choices. Do not forget the old standby live shrimp and cut bait.
Spotted Sea Trout: Trout fishing remains strong through the summer. Search out deep grass flats looking for grass beds with plenty of clean moving water and broken bottom or potholes. Tampa Bay offers good fishing areas using live shrimp and greenbacks free lined or under popping corks. The many broken-bottom flats with potholes are producing larger fish and an occasional flounder. We’re also catching plenty of silver trout, some topping the scale at a pound and a half to two pounds. These are great eating and awesome fun for the kids to catch. Cobia: Markers and sandy flats are good places for Cobia. They frequent markers,
especially those holding bait, and cruise the flats, usually following large rays and manatees.
Mackerel, Bluefish, Jacks, and Ladyfish offer diversity during the summer and continue to be strong on moving tides. Fishing around structure or fish attractors are good starting places. Or just look for schooling threadfins and you’ll find the fish. Tarpon: Tarpon fishing really comes alive in June. They are ev-
erywhere and they are hungry, from the beach to the bay, these fish offer the catch of a lifetime. Large Greenbacks, Threadfins, and crabs, found abundantly in the bay, are excellent choices for bait. Tarpon fishing around the Tampa area is good through the summer from the beaches all the way to the causeway.
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing”
813-477-3814
Captain Woody Gore is the area’s top outdoor fishing guide. Guiding and fishing the west central Florida areas for over fifty years; he offers world class fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories. Multi-boat Group Charters With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Captain Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament. Just tell him what you need and it’s done.
Visit his website at: WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM send an email to wgore@ix.netcom.com or give me a call at 813-477-3814 ININTTHE FFIELD HE IELDM MAGAZINE AGAZINE
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Tasty tomatoes and other produce: A UF/IFAS expert urges scientists to breed for flavor By Brad Buck
Imagine sinking your teeth into a fat, bright red tomato, whose aroma promises a tantalizing treat. Instead, you realize you got a great looker, but not a great taster. That’s because the consumer has been left out of the breeding process. For 20 years, Harry Klee, a professor of horticultural sciences at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, has been using genetics to improve flavors and smells in tomatoes and other produce that induce the consumer to buy more of them.
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As Florida farmers continue to harvest this year’s tomatoes, Klee urges researchers to try to make sure those tomatoes – and other crops – tempt taste buds.
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“The consumer has largely been left out of the development of new crops,” said Klee. “While the economics of the current system are focused on the cost of production, leaving the consumer out of the scheme has resulted in products that are not appealing to consumers.” It’s not that scientists don’t want to breed for flavor, Klee said, but there is very little information that bridges knowledge of the chemistry of flavor back to genetics. Klee penned his thoughts for a new article in Nature Reviews/Genetics. His piece builds upon progress made in breeding for flavor in tomatoes, examines the state of the field in other fruit crops and speculates on what the future holds for flavor improvement in popular fruit crops. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
“The path that we lay out involves using consumer panels to define what chemicals in a fruit make consumers like or not like the fruit,” Klee said. “Once you have that information, you go to the next step, which is to define the genes that control synthesis of those important chemicals. Once you know the genes, you move on to which alleles – or versions -- of those genes are the best ones and which ones are missing in a variety.” Then scientists use molecular markers that permit them to precisely improve flavor without negatively impacting the traits that are valuable to farmers. Last year, in a study published in Science, Klee and colleagues worldwide identified chemicals that contribute to tomato flavor. Their first step was to find out which of the hundreds of chemicals in a tomato contribute the most to taste. Modern tomatoes lack sufficient sugars and volatile chemicals critical to better flavor, and many consumers think they taste bland, he said. To help, researchers studied alleles. Klee likened the concept to the genetic makeup of humans. Everyone has the same number of genes in their DNA, but a particular version of each gene determines traits such as height, weight and hair color. In the same way, alleles determine the capacity of the fruit to make the flavor chemicals. It will take time to move all the desirable flavor alleles into an elite modern variety such as Tasti-Lee, a popular
“You need to improve flavor but not compromise all the hard-won gains that breeders have achieved in yield, disease resistance, ability to ship, etc.,” he said. “Farmers will grow a better-tasting tomato if someone can deliver it in a package that doesn’t compromise what they get paid for.” Tasti-Lee is a good example where a variety with better flavor very quickly gains consumer acceptance, Klee said. If you make a product that tastes substantially better, more people will purchase your product. “We think we can do even better,” he said. “The Science paper set out a roadmap for how to improve flavor. This review summarizes that knowledge and pulls together work done on other crops besides tomato.” The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS works to bring science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. Visit the UF/IFAS web site at ifas.ufl.edu and follow us on social media at @UF_IFAS.
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UF/IFAS-developed tomato, Klee said.
Kathleen Senior FFA Chapter Named Champions
On January 16, 2018 the team from Kathleen Senior FFA Chapter were named Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Career Development Event (CDE) champions at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research Center in Apopka. There were 10 teams consisting of 40 individuals who participated in this contest. The all girl team from Kathleen consisting of Autumn Jackson, Blair Buchanon, Lauryn Garner, and Amber Hanna, placed in the top eight individually, with Autumn being named the state high individual. The team was led by one of their advisors, Mrs. Erica Morse.
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The girls were required to complete five practicums including water quality testing, finding specified locations through GPS, a written test on various aspects of the environment and natural resources, present a timed group project on a given environmental/natural resources problem, and identify common plants, wildlife, reptiles/amphibians, and fish. Amber and Autumn said their favorite portion of the contest is the identification because as Amber says, “We can use that in the real world.” The girls said the most difficult part of the
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contest is the group presentation because each of their parts has to flow seamlessly. The road to the state championship hasn’t been an easy one. This was Autumn’s and Blair’s fourth year qualifying for the team, Lauryn’s third year, and Amber’s first. In previous years, the team has placed second for two consecutive years, and third the year prior. In 2016, Autumn was named the state high individual. The girls as well as their team coach have put in hundreds of hours of practice before and after school as well as giving up part of their holiday breaks. They truly have worked hard for this well deserved win! Their next step is going to be an extremely difficult one, as the team will move on to compete in the National Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources competition at the 91st National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana this coming October. Mrs. Morse explains, “The girls are amazing and are extremely excited for this incredible opportunity. I am so proud of each of them!“ WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Ask your dealer for, Super-Min poured molasses blocks and Super-Pro pressed protein blocks, the Only blocks manufactured in Florida, by Floridians.Thank you for your business the last 26 Years! We look forward to serving you for many years to come, providing Fresh from Florida products for all your livestock needs. Family Owned and Operated Since 1992.
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• Ten states in the U.S. account for 65 percent of horticulture production. California, Florida and Oregon led the nation in sales, according to the 2014 USDA Census of Agriculture, Horticultural Specialties report. • Florida ranks second in the United States regarding fresh vegetable production. It provides 80% of the fresh vegetables consumed in the whole of the United States during the months of January, February and March every year. • More than half of the United States’ supply of cane sugar is produced in Florida. • Florida is the No. 1 producer of at least eight major U.S. crops. • Florida’s famed agriculture industry employs 2 million people and contributes more than $104 billion to the state’s economy each year.
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Septic
All of us do dumb things from time to time for no reason at all. I have often wondered what makes a person do things out of the ordinary. Even smart people do dumb things. We super-size our French fries and order a diet coke. Many famous people have done stupid things. Einstein could not remember his own address. Edgar Allen Poe split his pants playing leap- frog with his wife.
Iraqi terrorist, Khay Rahnajet, didn’t pay enough postage on a letter bomb. It came back with “return to sender” stamped on it. Forgetting it was the bomb he opened it and was blown to bits. John Bloor mistook a tube of superglue for his hemorrhoid cream and glued his buttocks together. Paul Monkton used a van with his name and phone number painted on the side as a getaway vehicle.
In 1992, Frank Perkins of Los Angeles made an attempt on the world flagpole-sitting record. Suffering from the flu he came down eight hours short of the 400-day record, his sponsor had gone bust, his girlfriend had left him and his phone and electricity had been cut off.
A bus carrying five passengers was hit by a car in St. Louis, but by the time police arrived on the scene, 14 pedestrians had boarded the bus and had begun to complain of whiplash injuries and back pain.
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A woman came home to find her husband in the kitchen, shaking frantically with what looked like a wire running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current she whacked him with a handy plank of wood by the back door, breaking his arm in two places. Till that moment he had been happily listening to his Walkman.
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A man in Johannesburg, South Africa, shot his 49-year-old friend in the face, seriously wounding him, while the two practiced shooting beer cans off each other’s head. AT&T fired President John Walter after nine months, saying he lacked “intellectual leadership.” He received a $26 million severance package. Perhaps it’s not Walter who’s lacking intelligence. A man spoke frantically into the phone: “My wife is WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart!” “Is this her first child?” the doctor asked. “No, you idiot!” the man shouted. “This is her husband!” In Ohio, an unidentified man in his late twenties walked into a police station with a 9-inch wire protruding from his forehead, and calmly asked officers to give him an X-ray to help him find his brain, which he claimed had been stolen. Police were shocked to learn that the man had drilled a deep hole in his skull with a Black & Decker power drill, and stuck the wire in to try and find the missing brain. A 25-year-old Argentine man pushed his 20-yearold wife out of an eighth-floor window after an argument, but her fall was broken when her legs became entangled in power lines below. A police spokesperson told the state-run news agency that when the husband saw the woman dangling beneath him, he apparently tried to throw himself on top of her to finish her off. He missed, however, and fell to his death. Meanwhile, the woman managed to swing over to a nearby balcony and was saved. Maybe I’m dumb, but there are some things I don’t understand. Why don’t we ever hear jokes about father-in-laws? When statistics claim that the sum of all the stars in the sky is about four billion, people believe it. But, when someone sees a sign on a park bench or board stating, “wet paint,” they must verify this? How many times will we keep coming back and opening the door to the fridge when we are hungry? Do we really think that food will appear there miraculously? Why did the Japanese pilots who were planning to crash into American ships wear helmets? Why do people move a vacuum cleaner over a small piece of thread again and again? Why do we pick it up, examine it and then place it back down and move the vacuum cleaner over it to give it a second chance? Why are soap bubbles always white no matter the color of the soap? Have you noticed that if it is summer we try and make the house as cold as it would be during winter, and if it is winter, we try and make the house as hot as it would be during summer?
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By Melissa Nichols
Tabatha Sellers
Tabatha Sellers began her career in art just coloring in coloring books. She took coloring books with her everywhere she went. “I always liked to color in the lines and as I got older I began to draw freehand, everything I saw or could imagine I brought to life on paper,” said Tabatha. It wasn’t until she moved from Alabama to Lakeland during high school, that she decided to take a painting class. Up until that point, she said all she did was black and white or colored pencils.
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Upon moving to Florida, Tabatha left her entire world behind to be closer to family. As a young child her Aunt Nicole sparked in Tabatha an interest in horses. She inspired her to get involved and live her dream. This inspired Tabatha to believe in herself, to work hard and to not stop until she succeeded. Tabatha has been riding horses as long as she can remember, both English and Western, but her interest was in barrel racing in particular. She took the
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knowledge she learned, got a job and bought her very own first horse, one that everyone said would never amount to anything. She named the horse “Muffin,” and she became her partner in the rodeo world. Tabatha broke Muffin and taught her to run barrels. Eventually, they would become a force to be reckoned with in the arena. “My very first purchased mare, I bought with my own money while working at Dunkin Donuts, she was a $900 western pleasure bred mare that everyone hated and told me she would never do anything. Eight years later after all the blood, sweat, tears and the hard work I put into her training and patterning all by myself, she is hands down the most consistent mare at any barrel race. She is worth her weight in gold. I can trust her to do just about anything I ask of her,” Tabatha said. One day while out practicing for an event Tabatha lost her hat, which is very common during barrel race events. She looked around the WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
“It’s not a phase, it’s my life, it’s not a hobby, it’s my passion, it’s not for everyone, It’s for us cowgirls” ~ The Cowgirl Way.
arena and realized it was impossible to see her straw colored hat in the clay sand mix, her solution was to paint the inside so when it landed upside down you would see it. This trend took off and Tabatha found herself painting hats for everyone. Barrel racers from all around contacted her. She would paint them, bling them and make each and every one unique. Tabatha, still a high school student, used this money to help her pay for feed and board for her horse, which eventually became “horses.” Her love for running barrels grew and her love for horses grew, so she has continued to add the numbers of equine babies she owns. Tabatha now has Karma and Hope. She credits being able to own and take care of these horses to her husband who supports her crazy obsession and her customers who continue to support “Crooked Halo by Tabatha Sellers.” Tabatha looks back at the days she started barrel racing at Combee Arena when she first moved to Florida with fond memories, but also said her goal is to get her WPRA card next year and compete in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association with her new high caliber mare, Hope, who is an “amazing athlete” according to Tabatha. Having a mare like Hope is
Tabatha is a humble and grateful person for everything that people have done for her over the years. Tabatha has a relationship with her horses, calling them her “kids” and treating them just like a mother treats a child, with a ton of love and individual care. Even with a full time job as a dental assistant at Musser & Richards in Lakeland, Tabatha helps clean the barn on weekends to work off part of her board expense, feeds and makes time to ride her horses several times a week. Usually every Sunday she participates in a barrel race all while doing her custom art and leather work. Tabatha has always had an admiration for leatherwork, and thankfully Samantha and Robert Kauffman took her under their guidance and taught her some tricks of the trade. continued on 32
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more than she ever dreamed of owning, she truly feels so blessed to have the opportunity to run such an amazing animal she said. Over the years Muffin and Tabatha have made it to the Youth World twice and competed in every local rodeo around. “Sonia David gave me the chance by hauling me all over with her daughter, Savannah David. She did and still does more for me than I could ever repay her for,” Tabatha said.
By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida Spring has sprung. This is the perfect time for a voyage on the literary time machine to learn all about ornamental gardening in our great state. And, we have the joy of accompanying Mr. Simpson on this historic walk through plants, trees, and shrubs. Let’s see what he has in store for us this month. At the beginning of this journey, we find Mr. Simpson writing about Pachira. He pens, “I take particular pleasure in writing the name of this genus of handsome trees from the American tropics. The trunks are covered with smooth, often green or variegated bark, the handsome, glossy leaves are digitate and the large flowers are wonderful.”¹ He goes on to speak about specific varieties of pachira, comparing notes between the things Don and Bailey have said. Of course, we have no idea who these people are, but they must have been wellknown in the field at the time of his writing. He seems particularly interested in the P. aquatic, which is the subject of debate between the afore mentioned individuals. Don says that, “The flower is yellowish at the tip and greenish at the base.”¹ But according to Mr. Simpson, this is, “A very different thing from what Bailey describes under the same name.”¹ So, he decides to share his own experience, “My tree received under this name has not yet bloomed though it is quite large.”¹ Having no idea how that research turned out for him, we looked up the tree to see what people say about it today. Imagine our surprise when Google revealed that it is, what most of us today know as, the money tree. In fact, there are several sites that recommend growing them inside as they are apparently hard to kill, even when over watered. Floridata, informed us that the flowers are usually hidden amidst the dense foliage and have cream colored petals.²
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Since we don’t know how Bailey described them, it seems possible that cream could be interpreted as yellowish and that maybe Mr. Simpson didn’t see the blooms because his tree was too full of leaves. Yet, the pictures we found left us thinking it would be impossible to miss these very unique flowers. Perhaps this debate will forever remain unresolved. Look at the pictures and make up your own mind. After reading through several other tree recommendations, we arrived at his plumeria inclusion. We have to admit, here, that we have a special love of plumerias and were interested to see what he might be able to say about them. He writes, “Small trees or large shrubs from the American tropics with fine leaves and wonderfully fragrant flowers but all very tender…They all do well in the vicinity of Miami in rather dry soil but should be sheltered.”¹
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Part 44
We move on then to the Spathodea. Mr. Simpson tells readers that it is, “A small genus of magnificent trees from tropical Africa of which S. campanulata is considerably cultivated in the lower part of Florida. It is a rapid growing and handsome tree…and several times a year it bears a crown of flattened and slightly one-sided pitcher-shaped flowers of a rich brick red, usually bordered with yellow. When this tree is well grown and in full bloom it is a grand sight.”¹ Wondering what these “grand” flowers looked like, we did a little research. They are indeed some of the most interesting flowers we have seen. To conclude our voyage we decided to share with you Mr. Simpson’s piece about the Stereospermum suaveolens. He says it, “…is in my grounds where it is a small, crooked tree that sprouts freely. Occasionally it forms its strange, lurid flowers which are ill-scented.”¹ Though Mr. Simpson was obviously not enthusiastic about this particular tree, we discovered that it has a variety of therapeutic properties including being an anti-inflammatory, a cardiac tonic, and a diuretic.³ Different parts of the tree help in the management of an array of disorders. The flowers are specifically used for blood disorders. So, even though it may be a stinky flowering tree, it does serve a purpose in its existence. And, you all know how much we love plants that are dual-purposed. Interestingly enough, according to the site we utilized, there are no known side effects but it should only be used under medical supervision if you are pregnant.³ We hope you have learned a great deal on this literary time machine excursion and we welcome your return next month! Until next time, happy planting! 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. 157-161). ²Floridata Plant Encyclopedia. Pachira aquatica. https://floridata.com/Plants/Bombacaceae/Pachira+aquatica/806 ³Planet Ayurveda. Patala (Stereospermum suaveolens). http://www.planetayurveda.com/library/patala-stereospermum-suaveolens Photo Credits: Mauroguanandi. Munguba (Pachira aquatica) flower. (2009). https://flic.kr/p/5YnKKC Z2amiller. Plumeria. (2006). https://flic.kr/p/mKEaL Dinesh Valke. Rudra-palash. Spathodea campanulata. (2007). https://flic.kr/p/DAKpc WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es
Not Making Us See Red:
The Red-cockaded Woodpecker By: Ginny Mink
As we await the real arrival of spring, given the very strange winter we’ve been having, we wonder if you’ve noticed the knock, knock, knock, tap, tap, tap, of woodpeckers. Are you starting to see them on your trees? Though woodpeckers may sometimes make us see red, chances are, we aren’t seeing the red-cockaded woodpecker. Worldwide there are 217 species of woodpeckers. North America is home to 22 varieties and Florida boasts 11, or half of them. Unfortunately, one particular species is in serious danger. The red-cockaded woodpecker’s population is dwindling.¹ The red part of this bird is rarely visible and only seen on the male. It’s a small red streak directly above the cheek. The rest of the bird, both male and female, is black and white. They have large white patches on their cheeks and their bellies are white as well. The head is black, as is the neck, but their backs are barred black and white.² The red-cockaded woodpecker is often referred to as RCW. Prior to their decline, they were found in over 90 million acres of longleaf pine forests around the southeast. Now, their population includes roughly 6,500 clusters, for a total of about 16,250 birds, in just eleven states. This is due, in large part, to the fact that the longleaf pine forests are now only three percent of their original size.³ Though there are a number of other woodpeckers in Florida, is it easy to recognize the RCW. They have a mohawk shaped black crown. However, it is possible that you might think you’ve seen one of these if you get them confused with the red-bellied woodpecker. It is much larger than the RCW, which only gets as long as nine inches and weighs just 45 grams. Also, there’s much more visible red on the red-bellied than on the RCW.¹ Red-cockaded woodpeckers nest from April to June and their diets consist of seeds, arthropods, and insects. What’s most interesting about their nesting behavior is that they must make the cavity themselves in live pine trees. Most other woodpeckers prefer dead trees, but not RCWs. Additionally, they build defense mechanisms that include resin wells below their cavities which keep their predators from robbing the nest and climbing the tree.²
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Breeding groups stay together and incorporate a system of “helpers” to incubate eggs and feed the babies. Usually RCWs have one or two babies but they can have up to four. The females lay three to four eggs each time, but apparently they don’t all come to fruition. Between laying the eggs and when the babies learn to fly, there is a span of 26 days. Babies stick around as helpers or leave the group before the next breeding period.²
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Thankfully, the RCW have seen some serious growth in population size thanks to the work being done at the Apalachicola National Forest. Researchers have found that a critical piece to managing RCW populations is prescribed fires. Fire keeps the hardwoods at a minimum and allows the primary groundcover to be of the herbaceous variety. Given this plan, there are 575 active RCW groups in the Apalachicola Ranger District.³ Since 75 percent of Florida’s population of RCWs is located within the Apalachicola National Forest, it is important to support that location in any way possible. This specific habitat has the 30-60 year old southern pines that RCWs need for success. Though RCWs historically preferred the longleaf pine, they do seem to appreciate the slash pines in Florida.¹ If you are hoping to see one or more (if you’re lucky) there is a location about 10 miles northeast of Cape Coral and 25 miles north of Fort Myers that offers a good place to see them. It is called the Babcock/Webb Wildlife Management Area. Think about taking a trip to see these endangered, but hopefully on the upswing, birds.¹ Managing the land necessary to guarantee an improvement in the population size of these wee birds, who prefer to eat spiders and their eggs, costs a lot of money. The best way for us to help ensure that we keep the red-cockaded woodpecker thriving in Florida and on the planet, is to visit and support the work of the national and state forests. Remember, these birds serve a God-ordained purpose and ours is to make sure they live to do it! Resources: ¹Kevin. (2017). Red-cockaded Woodpecker: Once abundant, this woodpecker is now endangered in Florida. Times of the Islands. http://www.timesoftheislands.com/2017/06/26/148206/redcockaded-woodpecker-once-abundant-this-woodpecker-isnow-endangered-in-florida ²Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Red-cockaded Woodpecker. http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/imperiled/profiles/birds/red-cockaded-woodpecker/ ³United States Department of Agriculture. Sustaining the Redcockaded Woodpecker Population. https://www.fs.usda.gov/ detailfull/florida/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/? cid=STELPRDB5270811&width=full Photo Credits: ChattOconeeNF. Endangered Red-cockaded woodpecker- US Forest Service Chuck Hess. (2017). Bird in Hand. https://flic. kr/p/SHgBc9 Alan Schmierer. 538- Red-cockaded Woodpecker. (2013). Bird on tree near Spanish moss. https://flic.kr/p/eZTZaz US Department of Agriculture. Red Cockaded Woodpecker. (2009). Bird in flight. https://flic.kr/p/fF5CiY WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
RELIEF FOR HURRICANE IRMA REPAIRS Farmers and ranchers who sustained damage to farm fences and non-residential farm buildings due to Hurricane Irma have a temporary tax rebate program available. The program is to operate as a sales tax refund on all purchases of farm fencing materials and non-residential farm building materials used to repair any damage from Hurricane Irma between Sept. 10, 2017 and May 31, 2018. An added part of this assistance program is a refund for fuel used to transport any agricultural products between Sept. 10, 2017 and June 30, 2018. All refund applications with proof of purchase must be submitted to the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) by December 31, 2018. Added information and required forms may be accessed at www.FloridaFarmBureau.org/hurricanetaxrebate/.
WEBSITE HELPS FARMERS/LANDOWNERS AFFORDABLY ACCESS, TRANSFER AND CONSERVE FARMLAND The Farmland Access Legal Toolkit (http://farmlandaccess. org) explains legal arrangements that provide farmers more affordable and equitable farmland access and helps landowners balance earning income for retirement with making their land affordable for the next generation of farmers and makes useful information available to farmer and landowner advocates. The toolkit project is funded by the National Agricultural Library, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is collaboration among the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School, BCM Environmental & Land Law, PLLC, and Heyman Legal.
NEW 2017 WILDFIRES/HURRICANES INDEMNITY PROGRAM TO HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES RECOVER The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make disaster payments of up to $2.36 billion to help America’s farmers and ranchers recover from hurricanes and wildfires. The funds are available as part of the new 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program authorized by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. Signup for the new program will begin no later than July 16. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will make these disaster payments to agricultural producers to offset losses from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well as devastating wildfires. More information is available at the local USDA Plant City Service Center, 201 South Collins Street, Suite 201, Plant City, FL 33563. Telephone: 813/752-1474.
The USDA will issue $34 million to help agricultural producers recover form 2017 natural disasters through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP), related to losses covered by certain other USDA disaster assistance initiatives. These payments are immediately available and are part of a broader USDA effort to help producers recover from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, wildfires and drought. Primary focus will in federally designated disaster areas. Producers impacted by 2017 natural disasters should contact the USDA’s Plant City Service Center, 201 South Collins Street, Suite 201. Telephone: 813/752-1474.
FREE, ON-FARM FSMA READINESS REVIEW OFFERED The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is partnering with the University of Florida/ Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to offer Florida producers the opportunity to receive on-farm education and technical assistance at no charge to help them align practices with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule regulatory requirements. For more information on FSMA and to sign up for an On-Farm Readiness Review (OFFR), visit: FreshFromFlorida.com/FSMA or call 863/578-1900. Interested producers may also sign up for a Produce Safety Alliance grower training course by visiting: crec.ifas.ufl.edu/events/.
NEW USDA WEBSITE FOR FARMERS The USDA has a new website – farmers.gov – as a point of access to agricultural programs and information tools and personal advice for America’s farmers, ranchers, private foresters and other producers.
USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION CENTER HAS NEW WEBPAGE The USDA Rural Development Innovation Center has launched a new, interactive webpage to identify best practices for building rural prosperity. It is accessed at: www.rd.usda. gov The webpage highlights effective strategies that have been used to create jobs, build infrastructure, strengthen partnerships and promote economic development in rural America. It also offers visitors the opportunity to submit comments suggesting ways USDA can improve Rural Development program delivery, as well as highlighting USDA resources that can be used for investments in infrastructure and innovation. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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USDA OFFERS IMMEDIATE RECOVERY AID FOR QUALIFYING LIVESTOCK, HONEYBEE AND FARMRAISED FISH PROGRAM LOSSES
Florida
Lettuce
By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Fresh Florida lettuce is still available for another month or two before the summer heat arrives. The four major types of lettuce are crisphead, butterhead, leaf, and romaine. All of these types are grown in Florida. Crisphead, or iceberg lettuce, is the most popular type consumed in the U.S. Butterhead, also known as Boston or Bigg lettuce, has a loose arrangement of leaves and is chosen for its sweet flavor and tender texture. Leaf lettuce grows very easily in Florida and is mainly used for salads. Romaine grows in long, upright heads and is known for its crisp texture and its starring role in Caesar salads. Lettuce is the second most widely grown fresh vegetable in the country today, second to potatoes. Americans consume about 30 lbs annually per capita. Florida is the third largest producer of lettuce in the U.S., following California and Arizona. Lettuce is very easy to grow in Florida and can be started from seed or transplants, and grown in containers or in the ground. Lettuce is harvested roughly 2-3 months after planting. Peak harvest is usually between September and May, but it can be grown year round in Florida.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE
Lettuce is very low in calories and high in nutrients, particularly vitamins A, C, and K. Darker colored green and red leaves contain more nutrients than lighter colored ones. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, two cups of fresh romaine (94 g) contains 16 calories, 1 g protein, 0.3 g fat, 3 g carbohydrate, and 2 g of dietary fiber. One serving of romaine also provides 107% of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for vitamin K, 45% for vitamin A, 32% for folate, 8% for fiber and manganese, and plenty of iron, omega 3 fatty acids, potassium, vitamin C, and many of the B vitamins. That’s an amazing amount of concentrated nutrients in only one serving and a great way to get filled up on fewer calories!
Antioxidants
Lettuce is full of antioxidants in many forms, including flavonoids and carotenoids. These compounds help provide antiinflammatory effects, which is beneficial in warding off many major diseases. Other antioxidant nutrients high in lettuce include vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and manganese, zinc, and selenium. These antioxidants are particularly beneficial in protecting blood vessels from oxidative stress, which results in atherosclerosis and high blood pressure. Several of the carotenoids are especially important for good eye health, offering protection to the retina and macula.
Vitamin K
provides over 100% of your daily needs for this vitamin. Vitamin K is an essential component for clotting of blood in the body. This vitamin also helps maintain bone health by transporting calcium and metabolizes the mineral into your skeleton. Several research studies have found that vitamin K boosts bone mineral density and reduces fracture rates in people with osteoporosis. As a result, the Institute of Medicine increased its daily recommendation of vitamin K. Lettuce, spinach, and other leafy greens are very rich sources of vitamin K, and contain other bone boosting nutrients such as calcium and magnesium.
Manganese
Lettuce is considered a great source of manganese, an important mineral that plays a role in a variety of physiological functions throughout the body. Manganese is needed for glucose, protein, lipid, and cholesterol metabolism from the foods we consume, as well as for pancreatic function and development. The mineral is important in normal skeletal growth and development, prevention of sterility, and synthesis of thyroid hormone.
How to Select and Store
Choose lettuce that has crisp leaves with no signs of wilting or yellowing. The leaves and stems should look fresh and tender, and be dry to the touch. To store leaf lettuce, pat leaves dry with a paper towel, place in a tightly wrapped plastic bag and squeeze out as much air as possible. Keep refrigerated for up to five days. Do not wash until immediately before use. Dry Romaine lettuce before storing. Boston and leaf lettuce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days while Romaine can be stored for up to seven days.
How to Enjoy
Rinse well to remove any dirt immediately before use. Although lettuce is best known for its starring role in salad, there are many other ways to enjoy this nutritious leafy vegetable, including: • Sautéed lightly with olive oil and herbs • Stir-fried with soy sauce, mushrooms, and baby corn • Halve a head of romaine, grill, and top with salad dressing • Tossed into a stew or soup • Use as a sandwich topper • Use lettuce leaves as a bread alternative to wrap up sandwich contents Enjoy fresh Florida lettuce today. Eat more of these leafy greens and reap all of the health benefits they offer in one delicious package.
SELECTED REFERENCES http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://www.whfoods.com
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Lettuce is bursting with vitamin K. Two cups of fresh romaine
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Not long after Tabatha decided she wanted to take on a new venture and began doing fancy bling sets and extremely detailed leather tooling. Tabatha has made rope halters with leather tooled nosebands, cow halter nosebands, tooled the top of boat shoes, made wallets, earrings, dog collars, watch bands, show harnesses, picture frames and so much more. She has a full service custom leather line of items now, no two are exactly alike. Tabatha hasn’t stopped painting, in fact she is often hired to paint items for events, weddings, gifts and etc, but leather work takes up a vast majority of her time. When approached about tooling the toe of boat shoes she said “I haven’t done that yet but have been looking forward to the opportunity.”
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Tabatha does not tan her own leather. She buys it in large pieces and cuts it to fit each project. Tabatha then free hand draws the designs and cuts them, all by hand. The designs
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are always one of a kind. Tabatha has a room much like some people have for crafting except her craft room is a leather craft room, with a table full of an array of tools, mallets, knives for cutting leather, stamps and punches. Every item she perfects with the personal touches and details. Tabatha said she would not be the person she is today, living her dream without her family and God. She credits God to giving her the hands and skills to create the things she does. She also said her husband is supportive and helpful, because it’s not easy to work a fulltime job and take care of three horses along with having your own business. She looks back and sees the constant support from her grandmother who has been her cheerleader her entire life. Tabatha says she is successful because of those who have invested time and knowledge in her and the support of her friends and family. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Business Up Front
Merrell Bros opens inaugural Florida branch
Merrell Bros is offering a cost effective, odorless and nitrogen rich fertilizer for farmers across Florida. By Breanne Williams Merrell Bros, Inc., a biosolids management corporation, is changing the way Florida fertilizes its crops. The company began decades ago when Terry Merrell and his brother Ted Merrell were teenagers and were each given one female pig by their father. They started a 50/50 business partnership that has only grown through time. By the time they left high school they had rented hog barns and feeder pig lots in four counties. It didn’t take long to realize hog manure was a tricky substance to deal with. Leveraging everything they had, and with the help of their father, they bought a high flotation spreader truck and began to spread waste at a faster and more cost effective rate than competitors. Soon that concept grew and the brothers began partnering with municipalities to further their company.
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“We were farmers,” Ted Merrell said. “We were very familiar with the nutrient needs of all types of crops. It didn’t take long for us to realize biosolids were an excellent source of nitrogen and worked perfect as a fertilizer.”
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Nearly 90 percent of the nitrogen found in the final product is naturally organic, allowing it to absorb moisture and have a much slower release time than many traditional fertilizers. Now, they have businesses across the country, and on May 14, they will begin working on the first load at the inaugural Florida branch located in Spring Hill. “We knew Florida had a lot of regulatory changes happening,” Ted Merrell said. “Our fertilizer product is safer to use than traditional fertilizer and the good people of Pasco County were willing to work with us to take preemptive steps to providing this clean resource.” Due to the odor of fertilizer derived from waste many states are cracking down on the allowance of such products without certain regulations in place. Florida, being such a high tourism capitol, is quickly becoming one of the strictest states in the country on the product. The intricate drying process used by Merrell Bros to convert WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
7-4-0
Nutrient-Rich Organic Based Fertilizer Available Nitrogen………………….7.0% nitrogen rich “mud” from water treatment plants to the finalized truck load of dried fertilizer ready to be spread on a field requires many steps and a dedicated staff.
0.9% Water Soluble
us. Their city commissioners have the foresight 6.1% Water Insoluble, Slow Releasing to get ahead of the changing regulations.” Available Phosphate, P 0 ………..4.0% 2 5
Available Fe…………………..0.3% He said there is $3.2 millionIron, invested in odor control, which was a main draw for the company to Florida. He believes the After leaving the plant it is sent to machines that separate Netto Weight: Bulk issue will eventually migrate the rest ofDelivery the country and the mud mixture from the water. From there it is trucked to a said it is crucial they be ahead of the curve. If handled propergreenhouse where it bakes for several days in the hot Florida ly, agriculture and urban communities don’t have to obstruct sun before being sent via conveyer belt to an incinerator. The Derived From: Biosolids each other’s standard of living. intense heat kills any residual bacteria and bugs, effectively removing any lingering odors. From there, it is trucked by the Florida Fertilizer License Number: F002257 “We work all over the U.S. now, with a crew currently in Maine semi-load directly to the field. and another headed to Alaska soon,” Ted Merrell said. “Farmers can get an odorless, nitrogen rich fertilizer without having Luckily, the Merrell Bros have perfected the routine now FloridaGreen Askand about Fertilizer: (800) 663-8830 to pay through roof for Florida it. We are adapting to the changing their sons have joined them in the endeavor. Blake Merrell, Free Delivery to all ofthe Central demands of the industry and are continually investing in new head of the Florida division, said one thing that sets the comSlow release • Easy to transport, stage, and applyensure we are methods and technologies that will hopefully pany apart from so many other• products is itnitrogen literallyimproves sells thecrop uptake here for years to come.” final product for the approximate cost of trucking it to the cus• Helps to retain soil moisture, increase soil micro• Improves soil and water-holding capacity, tomer. nutrients enhances root growth, and increases drought resistance
• Produced Pasco County via solar drying and oven “We aren’t charging more for the productinthan what it essenpasteurization • Organics improve soil tilth, friability, and fertility tially costs us to get it there,” Blake Merrell said. “We didn’t want the marketing of the material to be our focus. This partnership between the municipalities and farmers just makes sense and we’re here to act as the bridge between two highly needed industries.”
Those interested in purchasing fertilizer from Merrell Bros can visit the website at merrellbros.com or call the office at 765-438-5299. Ted Merrell said the company produces a semi load in half a day once the process gets rolling. Depending on the backorder the company can be flexible for a farmer’s needs. More Information: (800) 663-8830 “We are built on a faith-based integrity,” Ted Merrell said. “We www.merrellbros.com don’t consider money to be our driving force. We are here to www.fb.com/merrellbros
fill a demand and offer a service that is ideal for both the farmers and the cities we work in. Pasco was a perfect choice for
Ted Merrell: (765) 438-7374 Blake Merrell: (765) 438-5299
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It’s (almost) Summertime! by John Dicks interest in changing the name of the global imaginary line to the Tropic of Taurus.
It’s summertime! Well, technically, summer doesn’t officially arrive this year until June 21st. Living in Florida, though, we’re hard pressed not to start celebrating way before that date. It’s certainly felt like summer for weeks now, if not months! For those of us prone to forget our high school science courses, an astronomy refresher reminds us that summer cranks up the 21st of June (at least it does this year) when the sun reaches its highest point of the year at the Tropic of Cancer. The Tropic of Cancer is marked with that line on a globe north of the equator, but still south of Florida, somewhere between us and Cuba. It’s along the 23rd parallel but drifts a bit over time. When the Earth is on its annual journey around the sun while tilted on its spinning axis, the moment the sun shines directly overhead on that Tropic of Cancer line, we celebrate it marking the summer solstice and the longest day of the year. Typically, too, it’s followed by “Back to School” sales, but that’s beside the point! With so much sunshine hitting the Tropic of Cancer on the summer solstice you might think it got it’s name from the serious skin damage that could be inflicted with such overdone exposure from the sun during the summer season.
Regardless of any of the aspects of science, we all know that summer is just a great time of year. School is out of for a few weeks and even as adults we seem to have it ingrained in our minds that summer is a time for fun, family and friends. Like many people, if not most, I prefer to spend summer as close to the water as I can get. Preferably, that’s in the water; but we can’t always get what we want (or so the song says). Even one of my all-time favorite summer jobs was working around the water. I was a Jungle Cruise guide at Disney World, the attraction of which I understand is now being made into a movie, starring “The Rock.” Unfortunately, I am making no cameo appearance. It was a wonderful experience of which I still regale of the adventures with any who will listen. Funny, though, that last year we excitedly visited the Magic Kingdom only to be disappointed by the gigantic crowds and eternally long wait lines. It made me smile to be an investor of Disney but not so much as a visitor during this special time of summer. Sometimes, it seems, that the best of times are the simpler ones, certainly so when it’s the less crowded ones.
Scientifically, though, its name was pronounced some 2,000 years ago when it was determined that the sun was hovering on solstice day, pointing in the direction of the constellation Cancer.
Head to the beach, or the river, or the lake. Make it a weekday if you can. Less people make it more fun!
Interesting is that over time, astrological drift has occurred (through axial precession) and now on solstice day the sun is frolicking in the direction of the constellation Taurus. Nonetheless, no one, it seems, has any
Yes, it’s “hottern’ blue blazes,” but that doesn’t stop us from wanting to spend our time just “chillin’ out.”
Take some time this summer to get some sand in your toes.
Rightfully so, too. We all deserve a break about now. Have fun. Happy Summer!
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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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s e p i c e R
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Florida Blueberry Lemon Corn Muffins
Chef Justin Timineri
DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS Mar 16, 2017•Recipe RECIPERecipe Content Blueberry-Lemon Corn Muffins Ingredients: 1/2 cup Florida blueberries 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest 1/2 cup whole milk 2 large egg yolks 1/2 stick (¼ cup) unsalted butter Paper muffin cup liners
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Blueberry Buttermilk Tart q Ingredients q
For the shell: 1/4 cup Florida natural sugar 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold, cut into bits 1 large egg yolk, beaten with 2 tablespoons ice water Raw rice for weighting the shell For the filling: 2 cups fresh Florida blueberries, rinsed and dried 1 cup buttermilk
For the shell: In a bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, and salt. Add butter and blend until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add egg yolk mixture and blend until liquid is incorporated. Form dough into a ball, dust with flour and chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, for 1 hour. Roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness on a floured surface. Fit dough into a 10-inch tart pan with a removable fluted rim, and chill covered for at least 30 minutes or overnight. After chilling line shell with foil, fill the foil with the rice and bake in the middle of a preheated 350°F oven for 25 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and rice, then bake the shell for 5 to 10 minutes more, or until pale golden. Let cool in the pan on a rack.
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line six 1/3-cup muffin cups with paper liners. Melt butter and cool. Into a large bowl, sift together flour and baking powder and whisk in cornmeal, 1/2 cup sugar, lemon zest and a generous pinch salt. In a bowl, whisk together melted butter, milk and yolks and add to flour mixture with half of blueberries, gently stirring until just combined. Divide batter evenly among cups (batter will fill cups) and press remaining blueberries into tops of muffins. Sprinkle tops of muffins evenly with remaining tablespoon sugar. Bake muffins in middle of oven about 15 minutes, or until tops are golden and a tester comes out clean. Remove muffins from cups and cool on a rack. Keep muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for two days.
2018
3 large egg yolks 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour Confectioners’ sugar, sifted Accompaniment: Fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
DIRECTIONS For the filling: In a blender or food processor blend together buttermilk, egg yolks, granulated sugar, zest, lemon juice, butter, vanilla, salt, and flour until smooth. Spread blueberries evenly over bottom of the shell and pour the buttermilk mixture over them. Bake the tart in the middle of a preheated 350°F oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until filling is set. Let the tart cool completely in the pan on the rack. Sprinkle with the confectioners’ sugar, and serve at room temperature or chilled with a topping of choice. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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A Closer LookAmazing Activities Naturally
by Sean Green
Tissue Roll Flower
I had been saving tissue rolls for a project that was abandoned and had a few left over after dumping dozens of rolls, so I decided to go ahead and add an element to the mushroom project we did last month and make a flower out of tissue rolls. There are many things that can be added to a project like this, for example, ribbon for leaves, plastic beads, clear beads for water droplets, plastic insects, even small LED lights could be beautiful.
Materials: Tissue Roll Scissors Glue Gun & Glue Twine Bamboo (optional)
Process: • Cut and flatten tissue rolls • Divide one of the rolls in half (this will be the flowers center) • Cut thin strips going half way across on one piece • Cut thick strips going half way across on the other piece • Roll and glue the thin piece core first • Roll and glue the thick piece core around the thin piece core • Cut tear shaped petals for the flower (or any shape you wish) • Glue the petals to the core one at a time ** (stagger the petals so they overlap slightly) ** • Make a knot in the twine and thread it through the top of the flower, glue the knot in.
Its better to leave loose ends, these can be the pistil of the flower.
If you are using a stem, glue the stem into the bottom of the flower along side the twine that was threaded through Wind the twine neatly around the stem and petals of the flower, working your way from the bottom towards the top until all the petal based are covered, glue along the way. Cut long leaves, creasing them down the middle and glue in place (again, stagger the leaves but let them over lap a little)
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Soak Leather
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Trim Leather
Glue Felt WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
A Closer Look A Closer Look
by Sean Green
Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge argyra)
Do you remember when the world was wonderous? When most of what we saw was new? When beetles, spiders, and other insects were brilliantly colored creatures that inspired investigation rather than fear? This is the mindset of a naturalist, and our passport to a lifetime of adventure in the world around us if we choose to redeem it. This month we’ll take a closer look at a small spider that was described by Charles Darwin himself as having a brilliant abdomen with red color “like ruby with a bright light behind.” The Orchid Orbweaver (Leucauge) described by Darwin is a genus of the long-jawed orb weaver family (Tetragnathidae). In North America, we have only two species of this beneficial spider, the most common being the Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge venusta). Less common is (Leucauge argyra), found only in Florida. Populations of these spider’s peak in May and will continue throughout the summer. This month we hope you will take a closer look at the orchard spiders that so fascinated Charles Darwin himself. It’s a treasure that will be abundant in the parks and wilderness areas right here in Florida.
of a gentleman, rather than a “mere collector,” keeping the ship’s captain Robert FitzRoy in company and conversation.
In the early 19th century the HMS Beagle, a Cherokee class 10-gun warship of the royal Navy, took part in the coronation of King George IV of the United Kingdom and was later adapted to survey the maritime features of the coast of South America. On its second voyage, Charles Darwin, the renowned naturalist geologist and biologist best known for his contributions to the science of evolutionary biology joined the expedition. Darwin was only 22 at the time and had just completed his Bachelor of Arts degree as a prerequisite for his pursuits as a parson (priest). The young student had no sooner returned from a geology field trip with British priest and geologist Adam Sedwick, (the founder of modern geology), when Darwin’s esteemed tutor and mentor John Stevens Henslow proposed Darwin would be a fitting (yet unaccomplished) naturalist for the Beagles expedition. Darwin’s role would be that
In 1841, Scottish zoologist Adam White was tasked with identifying and publishing the spiders collected by Darwin on the Beagles expedition. The spiders genus was documented and published in Whites Description of new or littleknown Arachnida. (1841) where the type specimen was named (Leucauge argyrobapta). Unfortunately, Whites vague description of the single specimen did not include illustrations and inadequately confirmed the identity. To make matters worse, the only known specimen was lost after White published the description. Consequently, the genus (Leucauge) was lumped into a generic “wastebasket taxon” that included several hundred loosely related species. It has only been recently (2010) that research has confirmed that the type species Leucauge argyrobapta found by Darwin, is a synonym for the common North American species Leucauge ve-
Only a hand full of orb weavers build horizontal webs, these are two of them. Each build webs only a few feet from the ground in shaded meadows, low shrubs, and forest understory. This web strategy is particularly effective for capturing mosquitoes, moths and flies that rise from the grasses for mating. These nocturnal spiders rest upside down, centered on the bottom of their web during the day unless disturbed. The Florida species Leucauge argyra is a colonial species, as are other Leucauge to a lesser extent. Colonial species build communal webs that are shared by many spiders. Individual territories are kept. Larger spiders up top, smaller juveniles closer to the ground. It is thought that this strategy allows the community of spiders to work together to subdue prey that would be too large for a solitary web and offers a measure of protection from common predators such as lizards, and other spiders. Some colonial colonies can grow large enough to trap birds and bats as well as large insects. The colonial strategy is not failproof though, orchard spiders are parasitized by Ichneumonid wasps that invade the spiders body and control the spiders brain with the release of certain chemicals forcing the spider to redesign its web to function as a fortress for the pupating wasp rather than a trap for capturing food like it’s supposed to. (I know it’s another insect zombie story), but these things are quite common in nature and hard to avoid mention. Darwin was right on target when he proposed the genus name (Leucauge); the name comes from the Greek leukos, meaning “with bright gleam” or white and venusta is Latin for “beautiful.” If you get a chance to get out and take a closer look at this spider, take delight in knowing your looking at the only spider name that can be directly attributed to Charles Darwin. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Darwin was at liberty to spend most of his time on land exploring the geology and originating his private natural history collections while the crew of the HMS Beagle set about their task of surveying and charting the coasts. Darwin took care to keep control over his collections for their intended scientific value rather than surrender them for use in the British Museum. He kept meticulous notes of his observations and regularly sent specimens, letters, and copies of his journals to Cambridge and his family. The expedition took Darwin through Rio de Janeiro in May of 1832, where Darwin collected the first specimen of what we now know as the Orchid Orb Weaver. It is obvious from his notes that Charles Darwin was impressed with the beauty of the spider; he described his specimen as having a brilliant abdomen with red color “like ruby with a bright light behind.” The young Charles Darwin suggested the genus name Leucauge and sent the specimens off to Cambridge.
nusta. The research also concluded that a second species Leucauge argyra, is distinct from Leucauge venusta and in North America, only found in Florida.
By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff
Alligators in Florida Living in Florida, at some point in time you will find yourself in close proximity to one of our state’s most famous animal-residents, the alligator. They are a delight to see in nature…from a distance. That’s actually a good rule of thumb for most wildlife, not just for safety, but legally as well. Most everybody in Florida pretty much knows the dangers of alligators, and the laws that protect them, but a lot of tourists and people new to the state may not. It is illegal in Florida to feed an alligator or entice an alligator with food, unless of course you are licensed to handle alligators. The laws are meant to protect the gators, as well as people.
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Let’s say there’s a body of water called Lake Gator. And there’s a park right next to Lake Gator. And people who visit Lake Gator walk out onto a dock to see the alligators, and occasionally throw bread, chicken, or burgers to the alligators. Well those alligators are naturally afraid of humans. But these people, who they’re afraid of, are feeding them. So they lose that fear, and they keep getting closer to the humans each time, and the alligators are thinking in their little gator-brains, “Hey, this person isn’t a fierce two-legged creature like I thought. And they actually look pretty tasty.” And the next thing you know, you and the alligator just made the eve-
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ning news, but unfortunately, you probably won’t be able to see it. Another thing to keep in mind, unless you are licensed or permitted for doing so, do not move alligators. If you have one on your property, don’t attempt to pick it up, throw it in your truck, and let it go somewhere else. This is bad for two reasons: 1. It is illegal. 2. The alligator will bite you. So, don’t do it. And if you see an alligator egg, don’t touch it. Again, for two reasons: 1. It is illegal. 2. Mama gator is probably really close to you, and she will bite you. Badly. Over and over. Of course, if you are licensed or permitted, you can touch the egg, but abiding by rule #2 is still an important thing to keep in mind. Nuisance alligators should only be handled by professional, licensed people. If you have a nuisance alligator, contact Florida Fish and Wildlife, or a licensed trapper. Alligator hunting is legal, and popular. If you are interested in hunting alligators, the hunting season runs from August 15 to November 1 each year. And if you’re new to Florida, and you just want to see real live gators, there are plenty of licensed alligator farms where you can visit. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Polk County Cattle Women It’s convention time! This year’s Florida Cattlemen’s Convention will be held at the Omni Resort at Champions Gate June 18 through the 21. Our own Rhonda Waters is currently serving as The Florida Cattlewomen State President. Rhonda has done an excellent job promoting the Beef industry throughout our state this year. She will also be leading a variety of FCW events during convention. The schedule for FCW events during convention includes the FCW Welcome Reception and Fashion Show on Tuesday June 19 at 2 p.m. The FCW General Membership meeting will be held on Wednesday June 20 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. On Thursday June 21 the FCW Membership Brunch will begin at 10 a.m.
about includes an educational game featuring a large plywood cut out of “Ivan” the Brahma Bull. She has traveled to farm fairs, ranch rodeos and other public events with Ivan educating thousands of individuals about the beef industry. We are proud to call Ellen one of our own and wish her the best of luck at convention! As a reminder, the Florida Cattlemen and Florida Cattlewomen have partnered together to sponsor the “Growing Our Herd” Membership Contest. All FCA and FCW members are eligible to win. Cash prizes of $1000.00, $500.00 and $250.00 go to the top three recruiters. Your name will also be entered into a drawing for a 400 gallon liquid feed tank donated by Duracast and Westway. Please recruit as many new members as you can!
I would like to congratulate Ms. Ellen Bryan on being nominated for the Outstanding Cattlewoman Award. Ellen has been a member of Polk County Cattlewomen since 2009, she has worked tirelessly to promote the Beef industry and to provide educational materials to children on the importance of agriculture. Locally, Ellen worked to create the Agri-fest program where 6,000 local 4th grade students get the opportunity to learn hands on about a variety of agriculture commodities in Florida. She has also served on the long range planning committee for the National Ag in the Classroom Program.
Megan Atkinson
One of the programs Ellen is most passionate
Polk County Cattlewomen President
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If you are interested in joining us, our next meeting is Tuesday June 5. 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,
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Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17. Come out and see us!
All Colors, $8.99 a bag. Call Ted (813) 752-3378
All wood kitchen cabinets. All wood vanities. Granite counter tops. Custom made to your size. Call Blake 813-752-3378 Many colors and styles to choose from. Ask for Ted. 813-752-3378
PRODUCE FRESH PRODUCE
RUBBER MULCH
CABINETS
VINYL SIDDING
BRAND NEW HUSTLER RAPTOR
Zero Turn Mower 52” cut, 23hp. Kohler engine, 3 year warranty. $2,999 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FMC 352
FOR RENT
We have all your aluminum needs! Screen Room, carports & awnings. Call Blake (813) 752-3378
LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES
Coggins Plumbing licensed • bonded • Insured. www.cogginsplumbing.com 813-643-7173
No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Many standard sizes in stock. Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES
Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the We are a Simonton/MI Windows dealer. Our BIG Box STORES! Call Today! Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378 windows are energy star, lifetime warranty. Call Broke & Poor 813-752-3378
CALL FOR A WINDOW QUOTE.
JOBS
FARM EQUIPMENT
MECHANIC NEEDED
TAYLOR WAY TILLER DISC
Agricultural equipment. Pay with benefits based on experience. Call David 863-537-1345
Plow - good condition. $1750.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
JOHN DEERE
Looking for your new tractor? Come see us at Everglades Farm Equipment. evergladesfarmequipment.com 2805 SR 60 West, Plant City 813-737-1660
Now Hiring Experienced Barn Builders 813-754-1766
MASSEY FERFUSON 40
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Late 60’s model industrial diesel grading tractor. $3,750.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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2018
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2018
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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2018
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM