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CONTENTS
September 2017 VOL. 11 • ISSUE 12
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association
24 KEITHA BENNETT, COORDINATOR Agriculture Education Services and Technology
Cover Photo by: Melissa Nichols PAGE 10 Florida Cowboy Challenge
PAGE 34 Meet The Minks
PAGE 12 Avocado Pathogen
PAGE 36 John Dicks
PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 38 Recipes
PAGE 19 Jack Payne
PAGE 40 Activity
PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 41 A Closer Look
PAGE 26 Literary Time Machine
PAGE 42 PCSO
PAGE 28 Endangered Species
PAGE 45 PCCW
PAGE 30 Florida Honeydew PAGE 31 Citrus Greening
Hey Readers!
Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker and a FREE In The Field T-Shirt. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
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InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner!
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P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL. 33831-9005 President – Ray Clark 4484 Swindell Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 640-0719 rclark@tampabay.rr.com
J. B. Wynn PO Box 197 Alturas, FL 33820 (863) 581-3255 jbwynn29@gmail.com
Vice President – Carlton Taylor 9875 Hancock Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 858-1771 L2brangus@aol.com
Alternate – Scott Shoupe 6130 Allen Lane Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 581-7593 Scott_shoupe@hotmail. com
Secretary/Treasurer - Justin Standing Committee Bunch Chairs: PO Box 849 Highland City, FL 33846 Membership- J.B. Wynn (863) 425-1121 Events- Kevin Fussell jbunch@agriumretail.com Trade Show- Bridget Stice State Director – David McCullers 1000 Hwy 630 W Frostproof, FL 33843 (863) 635-3821 crookedlakeranch@verizon. net
Rodeo- Fred Waters PO Box 463 Alturas, FL 33820 (863) 559-7808
Website – Adam Norman 2115 West Pipkin Rd Donald Conroy Lakeland, FL 33811 3882 Lake Buffum Rd East (863) 944-9293 Fort Meade, FL 33841 Adamnorman1977@gmail. (863) 412-0790 com risingc@verizon.net Cattlewomen – President, Mike Facente Megan Atkinson 4465 Poyner Oaks Rd N. 3970 Gerber Dairy Rd Polk City, FL 33868 Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 697-9419 (863) 559-1228 Megamess007@yahoo. L.B. Flanders, DVM com 944 Wedgewood Lane Lakeland, FL 33813 Extension – Bridget Stice (863) 644-5974 PO Box 9005, Drawer HS03 Kevin Fussell Bartow, FL 33831 4523 Fussell Rd (863) 519-1048 Polk City, FL 33868 bccarlis@ufl.edu (863) 412-5876 Sheriff’s Dept. – Sgt. Paul Mike Fussell Wright 4520 Barush Rd 1891 Jim Keen Blvd. Bartow, FL 33830 Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 698-8314 (863) 557-1741 fussell.flafarm@gmail.com pw5281@polksheriff.org Moby Persing 3380 Sam Keen Rd Lake Wales, FL 33853 (863) 528-4567 Dave Tomkow 3305 US Highway 92 E Lakeland, FL 33801 (863) 665-5088 cattlemenslivestock@ earthlink.net
Warner University – Dalton Bush 17 Skidmore Rd. Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 585-9530 Dalton.bush@warner.edu
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STAFF Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry Sales Manager Danny Crampton
Letter from the Editor
As I am writing this, we are deep in the clean up of the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. I’m sure many of you were glued to your television right up until you lost power, watching the track of this record breaking hurricane to see when and where landfall would happen and where the storm would hit next. All of Florida was impacted. The largest storm to ever form in the Atlantic basin swept through the Key’s, destroying as many as 25 percent of the homes with as many as 65 percent suffering major damage. The storm reached our area as a category 2, and the eye traveled right through Polk County and the edge of eastern Hillsborough County leaving a record number of power outages in her wake. The massive size of Irma combined with its slow movement caused hurricane force wind gusts to continue for 12 or more hours across much of Florida. Damage from the storm is still being assessed as of this writing, but one thing is certain, there is widespread damage and flooding throughout Florida. Florida is resilient. But the effects of Hurricane Irma are far reaching and the cleanup will continue for some time. It’s a time for neighbors to help neighbors, which we have already seen. If you have little to no damage, ask your neighbor, or friend, or just look for someone who needs help. They are out there, probably knee deep in frustration, damaged or destroyed buildings, water and downed trees. Fields prepared for planting are completely under water, as are pastures, oranges were blown to the ground. Look for higher grocery prices, but don’t blame the farmer and rancher. They have to make a living and Irma just put a huge dent in their income. Until next month
Sarah Holt
The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Melissa Nichols Taeler Dupre Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Al Berry Melissa Nichols Leslie Buchanon Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Libby Hopkins Nick Chapman Taeler Dupre Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Polk County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Polk County Catllemen’s Association. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
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Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
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Can you believe that when you read this we will only be about a week away from Fall of the year? September 22 is the first day of Fall. If you are like me, you are ready for a few dry days and some cooler weather. We have had one of the wettest and hottest summers on record. But I’m not complaining, we could have had a very dry summer, or even an event like Texas. Moving on we have many events coming up on our calendar. Some of you may be interested is some of them. On September 15, we will be having the Annual FCA Replacement Heifer Sale at the Arcadia Stockyard. On September 20, the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association and Polk County Farm Bureau will be hosting a Legislative Appreciation Luncheon at the W.H. Stuart Conference Center from 11:45 am to 1:00 pm. Please RSVP by calling (863) 533-0561 ext.112 or by emailing LoriK@pcfb.org by Friday September 15.There will also be the ZWT Ranch Angus Bull & Heifer sale October 19 at the Arcadia Stockyards. The Southern Elite Bull Sale will be Saturday October 21 at the Sumter County Livestock Market. There may be some more sales that come up so check your Florida Cattlemen’s Magazine for more dates and events. In closing let me remind all members and families that our Fall meeting and dinner will be Thursday, November 9. Please make plans to attend. There will be several mineral boxes and other door prizes given out, plus
some great steaks prepared by our cook, Kevin Fussell. You will also be introduced to the new officers and directors. Speaking about directors, recently one of our directors has taken another position with the State and Osceola County Forestry Department and is stepping down from his directors position. Mike Facente has done a wonderful job for us in the past and will be missed. He plans on continuing working at the State level. We do have two young men who have been our alternates and we will probably elect one to fill the position. Just for your information we are still the largest Association in the State and our membership is still growing. We are also still supporting the Warner University students who have joined our County Association. Well I’ve about run out of space. I hope all of your school students are having a great start to the new school year. Be sure all you parents and grandparents spend time with these young people out in the pasture, cow market and cow pens. Remind them of their farm and ranch life and how important it is to America and to the world. May God Bless you and your families and keep them safe. Hope to see Y’all Soon,
Ray Clark
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Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
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© 2017 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 Manager of Environmental Health & Safety, 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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By Leslie Buchanon
For as long as there have been cattle roaming the state of Florida, there have been cowboys. Sometimes referred to as “cow men”, “Florida crackers”, “cattlemen”, or even “cow hunters,” these hardworking men, and women, too, play a vital role in caring for the more than one million head of cattle that graze this great state. Ranching is an essential and fundamental activity that positively impacts Florida’s economic sectors, while preserving the natural landscape, protecting water resources, and maintaining wildlife habitat. Still, few folks know of the ranching traditions that have been adapted over the years to become suitable in this subtropical climate, such as using cow whips and cow dogs to move a herd through cypress ponds, palmetto scrubs, and oak hammocks. Rarely do folks have the good fortune or convenience to see these cow hunters outside of television shows. Most have never seen, first hand, the “daily grind” of the cowboy style…. that is until now. Seeing a need to educate the public about current ranching practices, while offering cowboys and cowgirls the opportunity to hone and demonstrate their unique set of skills, the First Annual Florida Cowboy Challenge was born. Bern Kinard and Kenny Raney, two Polk County cattlemen, experienced ranchers, and founders of the Florida Cowboy Challenge, know all too well the ins and outs of the cattle industry. Both gentlemen have been raised tending to and raising cattle their entire lives. Bern explained, “We’re having this event to promote the cowboy heritage, the cracker lifestyle, and gathering cattle on a real life cow/calf operation.”
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The First Annual Florida Cowboy Challenge will consist of three 500+ lb. steers and three simultaneous events, Woods Tying, Double Mugging, and Trailer Loading, all of which are used daily in the ranching industry. The Woods Tying challenge requires the ability to rope a steer and tie him to a post, the Double Mugging challenge requires the ability to rope another steer, throw him to the ground and tie three legs together, while the Trailer Loading challenge requires the ability to rope a steer and load him onto the trailer using the rope. Ken-
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ny added, “It’s pretty much going to be like you were going into a pasture and had to catch some cattle. This is how you would do it.” Each four person team will have four minutes to complete all three challenges with three steers, and the team with the fastest time wins. The 30 team limit was reached very quickly and a waiting list of teams was started for the overflow. Prizes will be awarded to the top three placing teams. The first place team will receive trophy buckles for each team member and $2000, the second place team will receive hand crafted spurs for each team member and $1200, and the third place team will receive Case pocket knives for each team member, $600, and various other prizes. While you may not be able to compete in the First Annual Cowboy Challenge, please don’t think you can’t be a part of the fun. This event promises to be a family-friendly, economical, entertaining, and educational night for folks of all ages. A concession stand will be available for participants and guests, along with vendor booths, and a boot scramble for kids 12 and under. Tickets will be sold in advance and at the gate for $5 each for those 13 years and older, and kids 12 and under are free. Bern and Kenny feel it’s important to involve the FFA chapters throughout Polk County in this challenge by offering up a challenge of their own. FFA advisors will have the opportunity to reserve and sell event tickets, with 20% of each chapter’s total ticket sales being donated back to the chapter. The FFA chapter that sells the most tickets will receive an additional $100 donation from the Florida Cowboy Challenge committee and will have a check presented to them the night of the event. The Florida Cowboy Challenge strives to promote and preserve Florida’s unique ranching heritage in the safest possible manner for the livestock, cowboys, cowgirls, and guests. People who grow up on a ranch or around livestock treat their animals like family. They raise them, provide for all of their needs, care for them WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
when they are sick, and protect them. It isn’t just their livelihood. It’s the cowboy/cowgirl way of life. To ensure the safety of the livestock, cowboys, and cowgirls, a veterinarian and paramedics will be on site during the event to make certain both the livestock and participants receive swift and appropriate treatment, if required. The Florida Cowboy Challenge will be held at the Adline Combee Arena at 1140 Fish Hatchery Road in Lakeland on November 11 beginning at 6 p.m. For more information about sponsorship opportunities or ticket purchases, please contact Bern Kinard at 863-604-3822 or Kenny Raney at 863-838-7712. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Dangerous avocado pathogen grows faster in cooler temperatures By Brad Buck
A University of Florida scientist has some new data that avocado growers might consider: The disease grows faster in the fall or winter than in the summer, so growers may want to look for laurel wilt more closely during the winter. Laurel wilt has been ravaging Florida’s avocadoes, which have a UF/IFAS-estimated $100 million-a-year economic impact on the state. UF/IFAS scientists say several species of ambrosia beetles transmit laurel wilt to avocado trees. But growers – nearly all of whom are in Miami-Dade County -- may consider scouting for laurel wilt during cooler temperatures (e.g. October to March), said Nemat Keyhani, professor of microbiology and cell science at UF/IFAS. They may also want to change how they eliminate wilted branches so they don’t leave contaminated trees in the area next to healthy trees, as the fungus can spread rapidly as temperatures cool, Keyhani said. Keyhani grew laurel wilt at different temperatures in his lab on the UF Gainesville campus. Though his data are preliminary, Keyhani said the pathogen, known scientifically as Raffaelea lauricola, grows best between 68 and 79 degrees F, but it barely grows between 86 and 89 degrees F, Keyhani said. When growers see their trees wilting, many cut affected branches down, potentially giving them a false sense of security that the disease is gone, he said. It’s likely still lingering and growing slowly or dormant in the tree, waiting for the right growing temperature, Keyhani said. “For growers, as a tree presents symptoms, cutting of wilted branches may temporarily result in little to no infection of the rest of the tree during hotter months,” Keyhani said. “Sometimes that works, and they don’t see the spread of the disease, and they say, ‘OK, things are great.’ But what happens is that, for some reason, the disease will come back after a few months.”
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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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Gardening and Landscaping Programs from UF/IFAS Extension Polk County
Sign up for all workshops at http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com
Kid-Free Nature Camp for Grown-Ups Sep 26, 2017 6:00 PM The Circle B Bar Reserve 4399 Winter Lake Road Lakeland, FL 33803 Sign up at http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com
Edible Plants
Sep 28, 2017 5:30 PM Winter Haven Library 325 Avenue A NW Winter Haven, FL 33881 Sign up at http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com
Make & Take Workshop: Hypertufa
Sep 29, 2017 10:00 AM UF/IFAS Extension Polk County 1702 Hwy 17-98 South Bartow, FL 33830 Sign up at http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com
Make & Take Workshop: Hypertufa
Sep 30, 2017 10:00 AM UF/IFAS Extension Polk County 1702 Hwy 17-98 South Bartow, FL 33830 Sign up at http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com
Alternatives to Turfgrass
Oct 3, 2017 5:30 PM Winter Haven Public Library 325 Avenue A Northwest Winter Haven, FL 33881 Sign up at http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com
Vermicomposting
Oct 5, 2017 10:00 AM MACKAY GARDENS AND LAKESIDE PRESERVE 945 Mackay Boulevard Lake Alfred, FL 33850 Sign up at http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com
Growing and Cooking with Unusual Herbs and Spices Oct 6, 2017 10:30 AM Lakeland Public Library 100 Lake Morton Drive Lakeland, FL 33801 Sign up at http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com
Lunch and Learn: Watering Your Landscape Efficiently Oct 10, 2017 12:00 PM Lakeland Electric Building 501 E Lemon Street FL 33801 Sign up at http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com
Shade Gardening
Oct 12, 2017 6:30 PM Bartow Public Library 2150 S Broadway Ave Bartow, FL 33830 Sign up at http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com
Lunch and Learn: Proper Pruning
Oct 17, 2017 12:00 PM Haines City Public Library 111 N 6th Street Haines City, FL 33844 Sign up at http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com
Help, My Garden is Trying to Kill Me!- Safety in the Garden Oct 26, 2017 5:30 PM Winter Haven Library 325 Avenue A NW Winter Haven, FL 33881 Sign up at http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com
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TAMPA BAY FISHING REPORT SEPTEMBER 2017 by Capt. Woody Gore
Just maybe we’ll get some nice dryer air this month, because fall is just around the corner. It’s that time of the year when we have to put a jacket back in the boat just in case the wind is blowing on the early morning ride to get bait. Finally the water should cool down and the fish will get a little more excited about being fish. As we continue into the fall the bite should keep getting stronger. You can expect good catches using live bait and artificial lures, all over Tampa Bay.
If you’re interested in some exciting early morning action, tie on a MirrOLure 16MR MirrOMullet Surface Walker or Top Dog Jr. and walk-the-dog across a calm morning grass flat. The anticipation of the next explosive snook strike or the water pushing swirl of a stalking redfish will electrify even the most seasoned angler. A topwater strike on your favorite lure is so exhilarating it’ll almost stop you heart. From past articles, you’ve probably surmised, when it comes to fishing artificial lures are close to my heart. There is something magical about tricking a fish into striking something that looks like natural food or is completely alien looking. I often think the stranger the lure the better chance of getting a strike. Over the years, I’ve used everything imaginable to catch fish. Live baits, artificial lures, and plastic straws; I’ve even used a strip of old white tee shirt to catch spotted sea trout and I’ve come to this conclusion if it has action or looks wounded something’s going to try and eat it. Try your hand at something man-made on your next fishing trip. You’ll be surprised at how many fish you’ll catch and how much fun you’ll have doing it. There are plenty of redfish and snook are all over the area hanging around the grass flats and mangrove shorelines. You can also expect schooling reds to keep moving around the bay and it’s usually fairly easy to find them schooled up on the grass flats or around oyster bars. It’s also the time of the year when some of the big reds show up, you never know if you’re going to a catch one in the slot or one of the giants over 30 inches.
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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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Most snook caught average in the 22 to 30 inch range. However, for those who like the night life associated with snook fishing and sometimes the big ones, this is a great time. They’re hanging under residential docks watching the light WWW.IN NTHE HEFIELD IELDMAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.
line for a quick meal. Use a shallow diving artificial lure, greenback or free-line a jumbo shrimp. Also, make sure to use a weighty Seaguar 30-40 lb. leader, so you don’t get cut off on the pilings.
fins to spark the interest of Spanish macs, blues, and cobia’s. Whenever, you hook-up, always be ready with another rod because other cobias will be following the action.
As for the others, expect some good sized mangrove snapper at the bridges, rock piles, and artificial reefs with some topping out around 3 pounds. Cobia should pop up as usual around markers and buoy’s Mackerel, bluefish, jacks and ladyfish will be feeding on bait schools everywhere. Don’t forget to hang a chum bag over the side then cut up extra greenbacks or thread-
When taking kids fishing, never pass up a chance at ladyfish and jacks because they can certainly make or break a trip. Most children are not interested in fishing, however they are interested in catching and they don’t care what they catch. When you take kids fishing make sure it’s always about them catching fish.
“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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Developing Potential
Polk Small Farms Save the Date: Central Florida Agritourism Conference
Did you know the number of Florida agritourism farms has more than doubled in the last few years? Join us to learn more about offering recreational activities on your farm to expand your revenue while increasing public awareness about agriculture. The UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Small Farms program, in partnership with the UF/IFAS Agricultural Awareness Initiative Team, will offer a two day conference for agritourism operators and those considering opening their farms to the public for recreational activities. The program will be held Tuesday, September 26 at the UF/IFAS Extension Polk County office in Bartow and will feature farm tours launching from True Blue Winery in Davenport on Wednesday, September 27. Recent changes in law affecting agritourism and new research on consumer preferences for agritourism in Florida will be presented. Panel discussions will address audience questions on services available to support incorporating agritourism into farm operations and current agritourism operators will discuss the joys and struggles of their experiences. Breakout sessions discussing cooperative strategies to support industry development will also be featured. Final details of the program, including an out of state speaker, are still developing. Registration will be available through the calendar page of the UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Small Farms Program at http://polksmallfarms.com. This program is offered by University of Florida IFAS Extension Polk County, an equal opportunity institution, and is supported by an FDACS Specialty Crop Block Grant, Polk County Farm Bureau and the Central Florida Development Council.
Class Details When: Tuesday, September 26 and Wednesday September 27, 2017 Where: UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, 1702 Hwy 17 S., Bartow, FL 33830 and tours launching from True Blue Winery, Davenport See details as they develop: On the calendar page of http://polksmallfarms.com Contact: Mary Beth Henry at 863-519-1049
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or mbhenry@ufl.edu.
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Fall Heifer & Cow Sale October 27th 1 pm. Expecting 300+/- HD Quality Replacement Cattle
Cross Bred Cows & Heifers (Bred, Open, Pairs) For More Information Please Contact Office: 863-665-5088 Dave: 863-559-3266 Mike: 863-559-5091
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By Jack Payne Sean Kryger’s master’s thesis at the University of Florida’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) will be on trying to create a Florida beer with homegrown ingredients. We’re a long way from a taste test. Kryger, who went to Santa Fe Catholic High School in Lakeland, is training a sniff panel to identify the aromas in hops that are most associated with great flavor. Kryger is teaching sniffers to grade each whiff. He needs to get them from “I know what I like” to assigning each scent a numerical value on a scientific scale. Data like that could help plant breeders pick the most promising candidates for creating a Florida-grown hop. Today’s agricultural sciences majors can stick their noses into just about anything related to food, to fiber, and even to fuel. UF CALS undergraduates may soon be doing research or internships in a new federally funded project aimed at turning plants into military jet fuel. They get muddy and wet studying the advances in aquaculture that have turned nearby Cedar Key into a regional clam capital. When they graduate, they enter a job market with an estimated annual 57,900 openings in agriculture and natural resources and only 35,400 new graduates in the majors needed to fill those jobs. These are jobs such as moving millions of dollars with a few keystrokes as a cattle futures broker. Another CALS alumnus is a lobbyist for the American Farm Bureau Federation in the nation’s capital. Another is researching trends and developing new product markets for one of the nation’s largest food companies. Others are doctors and lawyers. UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, to which CALS belongs, is the discovery and innovation arm of a $160 billion-a-year agriculture and natural resources industry in Florida. That industry requires an array of professionals that goes well beyond those who work on farms. That industry is constantly changing. It gives researchers, outreach agents, teachers and their students the opportunity to feed the future. They can participate in creating a more just system of feeding the world by working on distribution of food, reducing its waste, and using methods to produce food with the least environmental impact. We grow 300 crops commercially in Florida. Hops isn’t one of them. Kryger is among those who are looking to change that. Florida brewers import most of their hops from the Pacific
Kryger’s work is important because flavor matters. It won’t do any good to breed hops that survive Florida’s heat and bugs if no one wants to drink the ale produced from them. He’s been convening his panel in a food science lab run by Dr. Charlie Sims, who has done sensory work on everything from Florida orange juice to strawberries to Cedar Key clams. Together, Kryger and Sims are doing important advance work that could contribute to an entire new industry. Hops may seem like a longshot. But blueberries once were, too, and now they’re an $80 million-a-year industry, thanks to varieties that thrive in Florida that were developed by UF/ IFAS. Students can play a role in finding the next big success story in Florida agriculture and natural resources. Indeed, we at UF/IFAS believe they’ll have to. We need our best and brightest minds to figure out how to feed a projected 10 billion people on the planet by 2050, to prevent starvation even as we fight an obesity epidemic. We’ve even established a four-course certificate program that focuses undergraduates on devising solutions to one of the greatest challenges of our time. Kryger’s work could ultimately keep more Florida farmers in business – farmers who could diversify with hops to supplement their production of fruits, vegetables, meat, and wood. It could also contribute to unlocking mysteries of taste that could carry over to other foods. Kryger is among that generation we’re counting on to both feed the world and curb its obesity epidemic. We at CALS don’t believe a young person should have to wait until graduation to start working to solve the world’s problems. That’s what our faculty does in every Florida county, many states, and numerous countries. That means their students do, too. Jack Payne is the senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. jackpayne@ufl.edu • @JackPayneIFAS INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2017
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Northwest or from abroad. No one has figured out yet how to successfully grow them on a commercial scale here.
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Florida has the most nesting pairs of bald eagles outside of Alaska. Greenhouse and nursery products are Florida’s top leading crops financially yielding $1.93 billion in 2008. The Key Deer, the smallest deer in North America, is found mostly on Big Pine Key. Sometimes mistaken for bald eagles, ospreys have distinctive markings that tell the two fish hawks apart. Florida ranks 2nd in US production of fresh vegetables and provides 80% of the fresh vegetables consumed in the US during January, February, and March each year.
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Year 1915
As years pass, I often wonder how we have lived as long as we have. As a child I remember riding in the back seat of our car with no seat belts and no air bags. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets, and when we rode our bike we had no helmet. We drank water from a garden hose and not from a bottle.
We have a lot of perks being over 60! Your joints are more accurate than the weather channel. Things you buy now will not wear out. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off, and you enjoy hearing about other peoples operations. Looking back a little over 100 years ago I realize how much things have changed. In 1915 the average life expectancy for men was 47 years. Fuel for cars was sold in drug stores. Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub, and only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph. The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower. The average US wage in the US was around 20 cents an hour. A competent accountant could expect to make $2,000 a year. A dentist made $2,500 a year. More than 95 percent of all births took place at home, and 90 percent of all Doctors had no college education. Sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were 14 cents a dozen, and coffee was 15 cents a pound. Most women washed their hair once a month, and they used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
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Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from
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entering their country for any reason. The five leading causes of death in the United States were: pneumonia and influenza, TB, diarrhea, heart disease and strokes. The American flag had 45 stars, and the population of Las Vegas was only 30. Crossword puzzles, canned beer and iced tea had not been invented yet. There was neither a Mother’s Day nor a Father’s Day. Two out of every 10 adults could not read or write. Here are some of the predictions for 2036; The Supreme Court rules punishment of criminals violates civil rights. New Federal law requires that all nail clippers, screwdrivers, fly swatters and rolled up newspapers must be registered! Congress authorizes direct deposit of illegal political contributions to campaign accounts. Postal Service raises the price of a first class stamp to $6.50, and reduces mail delivery to Wednesday only. And Iran is still closed off, and physicists estimate it will take at least ten more years before radioactivity decreases to a safe level. Well it’s 2017 now, and things have changed even more. You wake up at 2am to go to the bathroom and check your email on the way back to bed. You try to enter your password on your microwave. You buy a computer and 6 months later it is out of date and now sells for half the price you paid. You leave your house without your cell phone, which you didn’t have the first 50 years of your life, causes panic and you have to turn the car around and go back and get it. Your reason for not staying in touch with some of your family is because they do not have an email address. Did any of the above strike home? WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Mrs. Keitha Bennett
Mrs. Keitha Bennett, better known as Ms. Hall, has been an agriculture educator in Polk County for the last 18 years. She is a graduate of the University of Florida with her master’s degree in Agriculture Education and Communications. It is no secret that Keitha always wanted to be an “Ag Teacher” and in those 18 years she taught many different areas of agriculture and had many students who touched her life. She became a second mom to many kids and the only “mother figure” to a few. Some of the areas that Keitha specialized in were Ag Communications, Aquaculture, Land and Soil Evaluation as well as Parliamentary Procedures. Her teams placed as high as 2nd in the nation during those years, and she also assisted fellow teacher Kyle Carlton with his “National Champion” Forestry team two years in a row. Keitha had a well-established program at Kathleen Senior high school. This past school year, however, Mrs. Keitha Bennett decided to step out of the classroom and focus her attention on education for the entire state.
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Mrs. Bennett has become a new employee with the Florida Farm Bureau Federation as the Coordinator of Agriculture Education Services and Technology, AEST, which develops and manages eight agriculture industry certifications, with many more to come. The goal of this program is to provide students enrolled in agriculture education classes the opportunity to become industry certified professionals, which gives them advanced opportunities for employment while enrolled in high school and beyond. These industry certifications can open doors for students that in the past would have not been there, and gives them the opportunity to add to or build a resume before they get a college degree, as well as help those students for whom college might not be an option, gain employment. Colleges are recognizing the importance of industry certified programs, and some are offering college
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By Melissa Nichols
credit to those students who enter with certifications. There are statewide articulation agreements in place for two of the AEST exams- Animal Science and Agriculture Technician. In recent years, this has become much more popular with high school students and common concepts with administrators. This program has proven to be very successful in Florida and has gained the attention and interest of other states. Louisiana, for example, piloted the program last year and has plans to expand on it this school year. On top of people from other states becoming interested in the program, many people from Florida are becoming familiar with it and its benefits. Last year, more than 1300 more exams were taken than the previous year and the program is still projected to continue to grow. In the 2016-17 school year more than 3200 exams were taken and 2,107 students earned a certification. In the coming year, the program is expecting to give more than 4000 exams.
The program is also adding new exams to the list of offerings as well. New exams are developed based on the industry needs and the objectives covered on exams are driven by each perspective industry. This year, an Associate of Agriculture and a Specialist in Forestry exam will both be offered for the first time. As new exams and specialists are added, the goal is to appeal to more students across the state and help as many of them further their education as possible. Florida Farm Bureau Federation State President John Hoblick said “Florida Farm Bureau is playing a vital role in ensuring the agriculture community has a strong and plentiful workforce through the industry certification program. Students who earn certifications can enter directly into the workforce earning competitive wages or pursue higher education, and hopefully return to the agriculture community. Either way, they will be knowledgeable consumers of agriculture products as a reWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
sult of industry certifications.” Across the board Farm Bureau has high hopes for the future of those who participate in the AEST industry certification testing. In Polk County, more schools are becoming involved with the program. Last year, there were four exam areas that Polk County students tested in. In those areas, 84 certifications were awarded to students at eight different schools. Frostproof High School agriculture academy, Ag Dogs Academy, had 21 students earn industry certifications through AEST last year. Joe Flood a senior at Frostproof High School said “The Agritechnology exam was hard. I thought there would be more animal stuff on it, because I am really good at that, but it had a lot of plant stuff too and it was challenging.” Whereas Becca Briggs who is certified in Ag Communications and AgTech was asked which was harder, she replied “The Ag Communications certification was much harder for me. Our school doesn’t have the cameras or digital equipment covered on the exam for us to actually use, so I was just going off what I read for that part.” Mr. Brantley, the Agriculture Education teacher at Frostproof, is excited his students earned certifications. One reason is because the school earned state dollars (CAPE Funding) for each student that earned a certification and he plans to use this money to purchase the much needed Ag Communications equipment for the school. Mr. Brantley also explained how last year Frostproof Ag Dogs academy earned “Model” (the highest) status through the National
Mrs. Bennett is excited to be part of a program that is designed to make a difference in the future of so many young adults. She is excited to see what AEST has coming in the future. She is based out of Polk County but is traveling to many different school districts and covering a wide array of agriculture related industries. Since taking the job she has traveled to south Florida where she has learned about the supply and demands for the sugar cane producers, as well as meeting with many cattlemen to learn about their current needs for ranch hands/ranch techs. She is always excited to hear from the agriculture community so the areas she is working on are those that are highest in demand. If you would like to contact Mrs. Keitha Bennett regarding having her come speak to your students, faculty or business, you may reach her by email at Keitha.bennett@ffbf.org. I have no doubt this is just the start of a great program and initiative to have more young adults entering the agriculture workforce or college more prepared than ever, after all you can never have too much knowledge.
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Career Academy Coalition, and industry certifications are a perfect fit for their goal with the academy. He said “One of our jobs with the Ag Dogs Academy is to change the culture to where students are thinking beyond high school. By 2020, 65% of jobs will require a college education or formal training, and we are trying to prepare students for these careers, as well as give them opportunities to participate in dual enrollment courses and earn college credit.”
By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida
Part 36
Year three on our Literary Time Machine begins this month! It is truly exciting to have been traveling through this book with you. We have learned a host of new words, old ways to grow ornamental plants, and which ones do best in our area. Rest assured that there is still much more to learn as we hop aboard for this month’s voyage with Mr. Torrey-Simpson, the author of this 1926 classic piece. When last we left off, we had reached his section on fanleaved palms. He mentions the Acanthorhiza. Which he says is, “A genus of three or four palms from the American tropics…”¹ And then, as is his custom, he shares his own experience, “I have an unnamed species sent by the U.S. Department of Agriculture from British Honduras that is doing finely.”¹ Maybe it’s just our lack of geographical knowledge that spurs this question, but we admit, we had to wonder why he didn’t simply say Honduras. Why did he choose to call it British Honduras? As we typed in our question we discovered that British Honduras became Belize in 1973! So, British Honduras isn’t Honduras at all, but Belize instead. Interesting. With that question answered we continue on our journey where we find two fan leafed palms that he admits don’t grow well in Florida. The first, the Borassus flabellifer he explains is, “A tall palm sixty or seventy feet high, native of India.”¹ Then he elaborates, “I have introduced seeds but none of them grew and I am not aware that it has been successfully grown in Florida.”¹ The same proves true for the Brahea, a Mexican palm that grows well in California but not here. We are not sure why he chooses to include plants that don’t work in Florida since the title of his book is, Ornamental Gardening in Florida. But, at least the next type on his list proved successful. He writes, “Chamaerops. One species from the Mediterranean regions which extends well up into southern Europe is somewhat cultivated in Florida, C. humilis. This is a slow grower but quite attractive and it does fairly well for me on pineland. It sometimes reaches a height of twenty feet and should be hardy anywhere in our state.”¹ That said, we wondered if this tree is still one grown in Florida. If you decide to look it up as well, be advised that you need to type in Chamaerops humilis instead of C. humilis or you will end up with information on some kind of yeast species. So, finally locating our palm on PalmPedia, we found that Florida was not listed as a place it grows best. Guess you’ll have to see some in California, Chile, Western Australia, or South Africa.² We have to admit, we love Mr. Torrey-Simpson’s storytelling so when we arrived at his discussion on Copernicia, we smiled looking forward to his account. He tells:
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“The young leaves are more or less covered with a whitish wax which is an article of commerce and the wood is among
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the hardest and most durable known. Some years ago a shipment of over fifty young plants of this species which had two seed leaves each was sent to me and they arrived in fresh condition. But every plant of that lot had been pulled up from the seed bed and the long, brittle tap-root had been broken. Although I carefully trimmed these and planted and watched them every one died, not a plant even making the slightest start into growth.” Of course, like you, that smile quickly faded when we realized it was a sad story instead. Guess we won’t run out and purchase any of these palms. But we are interested in whether or not the wood is still considered the most durable. We were equally disappointed with these results as there is nothing about the wood. All we found was information about the wax which is apparently highly useful and is only produced on the trees that grow in Brazil. So, if you plant these palms elsewhere, they pretty much lose their “tree of life” status as they are known in Brazil.³ Obviously God knows where He wants things to grow. Hoping to redeem the time, we continued to his discussion of the Corypha. He elaborates, “C. umbraculifera has gigantic leaves, the blades being six feet long and thirteen across. Some of the sacred records of the Cingalese were written on pieces of these leaves with an iron stylus.” We hope you are wondering who the Cingalese are too! We found that they are residents of the area in and around Sri Lanka. And, some writing suggests that they viewed agriculture as the most honorable of callings.⁴ We’d have to agree with them there! And that seems like a great place to end this month’s adventure. You’ve met a new people group, discovered that God plants things where He wants them to produce what they are designed for, and that British Honduras is actually Belize. That’s a lot of learning for one voyage. Until next time, be safe and plant things that are native to your area! 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. 136-137). ²PalmPedia. Chamaerops humilis. http://www.palmpedia.net/ wiki/Chamaerops_humilis ³Encyclopedia Britannica. Carnauba Wax. https://www.britannica.com/technology/carnauba-wax ⁴Dictionary.com. Cingalese. http://www.dictionary.com/ browse/cingalese Photo Credits: Cloud 9 Luxury Caranuba Vehicle Wax. Cody Ryan Relgle. https://flic.kr/p/dUBhdR Isle of Lunch (Belize). Rebecca Smith. https://flic.kr/p/7FsZV Page 466 of “Ceylon and the Cingalese.” Mechanical Curator’s Cuttings. https://flic.kr/p/gTPjx5 WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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No Shrimp Cocktail Here: Squirrel Chimney Cave Shrimp By Jim Frankowiak
Shrimp are often considered a delicacy. Seafood lovers, especially those who enjoy shellfish, know how delicious shrimp can be. And if we recall Bubba, from Forrest Gump, we can all enumerate the plethora of ways “skrimp” are best served. What some of us may not know, is that the Squirrel Chimney Cave Shrimp is one such variety that is considered critically endangered, and possibly extinct. The Squirrel Chimney Cave Shrimp only exists in Alachua County in a limestone cave. Our initial research revealed that they have not been recorded since 1973. But, since the site where they occur is privately owned, and no-trespassing protected, it is probably no wonder that scientists don’t have access. The real problem for these potentially still existing shrimp is that Gainesville is constantly growing. That means the danger of contaminated ground water, thanks to development, is a real one for them.¹
Scientists suggest a few ways to ensure that these shrimp, and the other unique invertebrates living in the Squirrel Chimney sinkhole, remain safe. The first suggestion is the installation of a security fence to surround the space. However, this kind of fence must not prevent the natural flow of fauna and detrital material into the cave. On top of that, they think that planting more native vegetation around the sink is highly advisable.² On an even greater scope, considerations for future development should take into account the vulnerability of this natural habitat. This would help ensure that water quality is monitored and maintained. Creating rules that govern the kind of chemicals being utilized is a good idea. Zoning laws can also help protect this crucial ecosystem.²
When you add to that the fact that there’s an invasive species of fish in the region, the Redeye Chub, it is easy to see why help is needed. Particularly since the Redeye Chub preys on shrimp larvae. And though some extensive surveys were performed in the early 90s, no Squirrel Chimney Cave Shrimp were discovered at that time. But, because there are over 100 sinkholes in that cave, and only 38 of them were investigated at that time, there was still hope of their existence.¹
Recall, though, that we mentioned that this piece of property is privately owned. Some people believe that one of the best ways to ensure sustainability at this location is to have the property and its surrounding area purchased by another source. Due to the fact that this is a privately owned location, no Federal recovery plan has been instituted.³ So, there is no government organization actively working on helping these little guys out.
This is a freshwater shrimp and as we mentioned, it is only known to exist in subterranean water within this particular cave. For this reason, it is often referred to as the Florida Cave Shrimp. They are pretty small shrimp as well, at an average of 1.2 inches in length. Plus, they are without pigment, mostly see through, and have smaller eyes than shrimp that live closer to the surface.²
Therefore, all hopes for protection fall on someone interested in purchasing the property for that purpose. This should be an organization or individual devoted to keeping the Squirrel Chimney sink safe. So, if you are someone with a heart for endangered, and critically endangered species, perhaps you can help with this. Especially, if you have a lot of money, as we feel relatively certain that whomever owns the site won’t be too keen on selling it.
In 1994, there was some great new, a few Squirrel Chimney Cave Shrimp were discovered. And, one female was recorded, in July of that year, as having 35 embryos. Scientists were able to locate recently hatched larvae, too. These were all slightly larger than their surface dwelling counterparts. But, information on these shrimp is still extremely limited. In fact, what they eat is still unknown, as is how they reproduce.³ The shrimp reside in Squirrel Chimney, a sinkhole in Alachua County. While the sinkhole itself is relatively small, it is very deep. And, its depth allows it to make way to an unknown number of flooded caves. In fact, this particular location has been, “known to support one of the richest cave invertebrate faunas in the nation.”² Those that live in it are adapted to its detritus-based ecosystem, which is poor in nutrients. Unfortunately, because the Squirrel Chimney Cave Shrimp is only found in this specific cave system it is highly vulnerable. Pretty much any change to the system can equate with utter extinction. Storm water runoff, and those from herbicides and fertilizers, can prove quite detrimental.² So what can we do to PAGE
help ensure that these creatures remain in existence?
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But, like we always tell you, there’s a reason the Squirrel Chimney Cave Shrimp was placed on this planet and it is up to us to ensure that it sticks around. After all, we have been entrusted with God’s creation as its stewards. This shrimp species’ existence depends on us. Resources: ¹IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (2017). Palaemonetes cummingi. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/15886/0 ²US Fish & Wildlife Service. North Florida Ecological Services. Squirrel Chimney Cave Shrimp. https://www.fws.gov/northflorida/Species-Accounts/Squirrel-Chimney-Cave-Shrimp-2005. htm ³Squirrel Chimney Cave Shrimp. http://myfwc.com/media/2211697/Squirrel-Chimney-Cave-Shrimp.pdf Photo Credits: Chip Clark at the Smithsonian Institute. Image of endangered Kentucky Cave Shrimp part of the same family, Palaemonidae. https://flic.kr/p/jWPcPo WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Florida
Honeydew
By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Juicy, sweet honeydew is at its peak season now. A member of the gourd family, honeydew is related to cucumbers, winter melons, crenshaw, and casaba melons. Worldwide, China is the top producer of honeydew, followed by Turkey and the United States. In the U.S., the top melon producers are California, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, and Florida. Melons require a long, warm growing season free of frost. Compared with cantaloupe, honeydew ripens most slowly and reaches its peak season later in the summer, generally August through October. Honeydew melons weight four to eight pounds on average, but can vary widely in size. This sweet melon has a smooth light green to cream colored rind and pale green flesh that surrounds a core of seeds. In recent years, orange fleshed honeydew melons have become available. The rind is a pale orange color, with a bright orange flesh, like that of cantaloupe, and the sweet, subtle taste of honeydew. Honeydew melons do not slip off the vine when ripe. They must be cut off the vine when ripe, when the rind turns a cream color and the stem end is slightly fragrant. Once picked, they’ll continue to ripen for several days at room temperature. Ripening can be expedited by placing in a paper bag with a banana.
Nutritional Profile According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of diced fresh honeydew (177 g) contains 60 calories, 1 g of protein, 0.2 g of fat, 16 g of carbohydrate, and 1.4 g of fiber. It provides 53% of the Daily Reference Intake for vitamin C, 12% for potassium, 8% for folate and vitamin B, 6% for vitamin K, and significant amounts of vitamin A, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, iron, and niacin.
Weight control Honeydew is comprised of 90% water by weight. The high water content in this fruit means that you can consume a large portion for very few calories. Two cups of fresh honeydew have only 120 calories, and is a great food for maintaining a healthy weight because its high fiber and water content help keep you full. Eating foods high in water content can also help meet your hydration needs in the hot summer weather.
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Honeydew is also high in potassium, a mineral and electrolyte in the body that helps protect against high blood pressure. Potassium helps regulate fluids and mineral balance, aids in muscle contraction of both skeletal and heart muscle, and helps transmit nerve impulses. People with low potassium levels are more prone to muscle cramps. Honeydew, as well as most fruits and vegetables, are fantastic sources of potasINTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
Vitamin C Vitamin C is important for a healthy immune system, cancer prevention, healthy blood circulation and wound healing. This vitamin acts as a potent antioxidant in the body, neutralizing harmful free radicals and preventing its damaging effects in cells. By fighting cell and tissue damage, vitamin C protects against cancer, as well as the common cold. This vitamin also helps the body absorb more iron, and aids in the development of strong bones and teeth. Current research findings support that vitamin C’s benefits come from consumption of whole fruits and vegetables. A high intake of produce is associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes, including heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Taking supplements does not seem to provide the same protective benefits as eating the actual fruit.
How to select and store Choose a honeydew that feels heavy for its size and yields slightly to light thumb pressure. Look for a rind that is smooth, not fuzzy, with a cream color. A ripe melon will have a sweet, fragrant smell from the stem end. Whole, firm honeydew can be left at room temperature for several days to ripen. Once the melon has reached its peak ripeness, store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Melon that has been cut should also be stored in the refrigerator.
How to Enjoy Fresh Florida honeydew is delicious sliced and eaten out-ofhand. Sweet honeydew can also be juiced or blended into smoothies or sorbet. Other ways to enjoy include: • Dice finely and add to other vegetables for a fruity salsa • Cut into chunks and wrap with prosciutto or ham • Blend and chill for a cool, sweet soup • Chop into pieces and add to any fruit or vegetable salad • Slice and top with yogurt or cottage cheese for a high protein snack • Blend either alone or with other fruits and freeze in a popsicle mold Enjoy fresh Florida honeydew at its peak today. Sweet and mild, honeydew adds great nutrition and deliciousness to any meal.
Selected References
Potassium
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http://www.whfoods.com http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ https://cals.arizona.edu/fps/sites/cals.arizona.edu.fps/files/ cotw/Honeydew.pdf http://aic.ucdavis.edu/profiles/Melons-2006.pdf
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System screens out deadly citrus greening-carrying insect Imagine camping in the deep woods. You’d want a tent with mesh that prevents bugs – even those as small as gnats – from entering into your wildlife hangout. That’s the idea behind “Citrus Under Protective Screens,” or CUPS, which helps keep away a pin-head-sized insect that causes citrus greening, University of Florida scientists say. Citrus greening threatens to destroy the state’s multibillion-ayear citrus industry, according to UF/IFAS researchers. CUPS, as scientists call the screening system, is not brand new. Three Florida growers are operating 50 acres of commercial CUPS, said Arnold Schumann, a UF/IFAS soil and water sciences professor at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Another 120 acres of CUPS citrus production are under construction for planting in 2018, Schumann said.
By Brad Buck
less per square foot, Schumann said. They might import the screen or modify the pole-and-cable architecture to reduce the cost of materials, he said. “We are developing CUPS for growing high quality HLB-free fresh citrus fruit, which sells at much higher prices than processed fruit,” said Schumann. “We consider CUPS as a medium-term solution for growing fresh fruit in HLB-endemic regions like Florida, where currently no other viable solutions exist.” About 90 percent of the citrus produced by Florida growers goes to make juice, while the rest, referred to by the industry as fresh citrus fruit, is consumed as food, UF/IFAS researchers say.
CUPS prevent the Asian citrus psyllid from reaching citrus trees and infecting them with greening, or Huanglongbing (HLB), Schumann said. He co-authored a recently published Extension document that summarizes UF/IFAS research into CUPS and explains the economics of the system.
In some states like California, fresh fruit production accounts for nearly all the consumption, Schumann said. UF/IFAS researchers and growers won’t know for certain whether citrus farmers can maintain a profit by using the screening system to keep out the psyllid for another seven to 10 years, he said. Every year that we spend researching the CUPS system rapidly improves our forecasting ability, and further refinements bring us closer to the reality of a sustainable, profitable solution, Schumann said.
The structure and mesh account for most of the $1 per square foot cost of the CUPS system, said Ariel Singerman, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of food and resource economics at CREC and a co-author of the document. Using preliminary data available from Schumann’s pilot CUPS program, UF/ IFAS researchers made projections for the remaining years of the investment and found that a price of $24.15 per box of fruit results in a grower breaking even.
Many factors also play a large role in the effectiveness of CUPS, said Schumann. Those include optimizing fertigation – when growers inject fertilizers and other water-soluble products into an irrigation system. CUPS success also hinges on improved planting density to produce high, early yields and choosing varieties with the best consumer preference – for example, those that are seedless, easy peeling, and with the legendary “fresh from Florida” taste.
“Given that current prices of specialty fruit are above that level, CUPS is profitable under current market conditions for growing those varieties,” Singerman said.
“Meanwhile our research strives to optimize those factors affecting profitability that we can control,” Schumann said. For example, growers have little control over fruit price, he said. But by planting early maturing varieties picked before competitors’ fruit in other regions like California, growers in the Sunshine State can get better market prices, he said.
UF/IFAS researchers are working with growers to reduce the cost of screen house structures from $1 to 50 cents or
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INFORMATION FOR TEACHER AG EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS; AND USDA FORAGE DISASTER BENEFITS FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS By Jim Frankowiak
Pre-K through 12th grade educators are encouraged to apply for Mini-Grants during the current school year from Florida Farm Bureau-Agriculture in the Classroom (FFBAITC) to help underwrite the cost of programs designed to increase the understanding of agriculture among students and educators. Grants of up to $250 are available to help educators more effectively integrate agriculture into their curriculum. There are no subject area boundaries with entries encouraged in Social Studies, Math, Language Arts, Science, Environmental Education and other subject areas or combination of areas that effectively integrate key agricultural principles. Certified Florida teachers engaged in classroom instruction at the Pre-K – 12th grade levels are eligible for the FFBAITC Mini-Grant Program for the 2017-2018 school year. The deadline for applications is Monday, October 2, 2017. Grant winners will be notified by November 15, 2017 via e-mail. Objectives and goals must be clearly stated along with an explanation how the grant will help achieve them. Projects must be completed by the end of the current school year and must include a brief, final report upon completion of the project, but not later than July 1, 2018. Innovation and an inter-disciplinary approach are important judging criteria. Extensive student involvement and subsequent effect on the students is very important to FFB-AITC. Field trips and assemblies must be linked to classroom learning objectives and applications should outline specific pre and post activities. For further assistance and information, interested educators may contact Debra Jones by phone: 352/384-2630 or Email: Debra.Jones@ffb.org.
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There is an additional opportunity to Pre-K through 12th grade Florida general education and agriscience teachers who want to use agricultural concepts to teach core sub-
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ject areas. This opportunity is through Florida Agriculture in the Classroom (FAITC). The deadline for applications is also October 2 and is limited to the first, 40 complete applications. For applications and guidelines for this Teacher Grant Program, visit: http://faitc.org/teacher-grant/. LIVESTOCK FORAGE DISASTER PROGRAM Producers in 35 Florida counties, including Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, Pinellas, Pasco counties, are eligible to apply for 2017 Livestock Forage (LFP) benefits through the United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (USDA FSA). The 2014 Farm Bill authorized the LFP to provide compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock on land that is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or is planted specifically for grazing. The grazing losses must be due to qualifying drought conditions during the normal grazing period for the county. LFP also provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses on rangeland managed by a federal agency if the eligible livestock producer is prohibited by the federal agency from grazing the normal permitted livestock on the managed rangeland due to a qualifying fire. Grazing losses must have occurred on or after October 1, 20ll. Additional information is available about LFP at your local FSA Office or online at USDA FSA Livestock Forage Disaster Program. The FSA office in Hillsborough County is located at 201 South Collins Street, Plant City, FL 33563. Telephone: 813/752-1474.
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At Gus Trent’s 5th Annual Rodeo Fest This month’s adventure was quite an interesting one as I took the kids to Gus Trent’s 5th Annual Rodeo Fest. The last time the kids went to a rodeo was years ago and they were too young to even remember that they’d been to one. Except J, of course, and though I had hoped he’d be more enthusiastic about this event, I was sorely disappointed when I told him what I had planned. “I don’t want to go to a rodeo,” he told me bluntly. I’ll admit, I have to at least appreciate his candor. The rodeo was to start at 6 and last until 8:30. It was located at the Florida State Fairgrounds and I’m quite thankful that it was an indoor event because when we left our house, in North Lakeland, we found ourselves driving through a monsoon. Or, at least that’s how it felt. The torrential downpour was almost enough to make me rethink my plans. But, I had no backup and it was already two days before the article was due. So, off we went. About half way there, the kids reminded me that we hadn’t eaten dinner. So, we stopped at Subway, a place J proclaimed he’d never been. Obviously, he had forgotten plenty of sub dinners prior to the advent of Firehouse. Anyway, we ate our food with Zeke being exceptionally hyper active and got back on the road.
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Sadly, the torrential rains had not dissipated by the time we found our parking place. We entered the stadium soaking wet. I was glad it wasn’t an air-conditioned locale, that’s for
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By Ginny Mink
sure. I fought with Zeke about not sitting on the stairs in the bleachers as he was still apparently hyped up by the lollipop I had given he and Hazel prior to eating dinner. I have to make a note of that for future endeavors. After some introductory things, bull riding was the first event. Zeke looked at me and said, “Can we buy an animal.” I’m not sure where he thought we were, but I had to explain to him that there were no animals for sale and that even if there had been I wouldn’t be buying one. “Buy us a horse.” He told me indignantly. I told him I couldn’t afford one. He responded, “Get a cheap one.” His tone implied that this was an obvious compromise. So, I explained to him that if I found a horse I could afford, it wouldn’t be one that he could ride. This made him all the more annoyed. I just shook my head. “Why can’t I ride some of the horses?” Hazel wanted to know. I sighed. This was not turning out the way I had intended. Bull riding came to a close and calf roping was next on the agenda. “They’re killing them!” Zeke and Hazel shouted. “No, they are just tying them up,” I explained. “Is that one dead?” Zeke asked when the wee black calf failed to move. Again, I explained the concept. But he and Hazel were both upset about the calves. Each time one ended up on the ground I was asked if it was dead. “Can we leave this studio?” Zeke asked me several times. Why he thought it was a studio, or if he even knows what one WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
is, I don’t know. And even though I tried to explain to him that it wasn’t, he was adamant. He wanted to go see the rest of the “carnival.” I realized then that he understood we were at the fairgrounds and therefore anticipated a “fair” experience. He was sorely disappointed. Thankfully, the next event was mounted shooting. When I informed them that the riders were going to shoot I got two very worried remarks. “Are they going to shoot the cows?” Zeke wanted to know. And, Hazel was visibly concerned, “Are they going to shoot the horses?” But, when they discovered that the balloons were the targets, and the excitement began, they were both thrilled. Zeke was clapping his hands and smiling wildly. Hazel, was cheering on the women hoping that they wouldn’t miss. I could tell J was thoroughly impressed with the skill levels of the riders. I had to sneak glances at him since he’s none too keen on being photographed.
When I asked them, on the way home, what their favorite part was, shooting seemed to be the unanimous answer. Even J was talking about the skill necessary to hit balloons while riding on a horse. We were all enamored by the man that used a rifle to do so. He was truly impressive. And, though I’m not sure I would take the kids again, simply because they were less enthralled than I had hoped, I would recommend it to people who are thrilled by the rodeo experience. It will be happening again next year, so keep your ears open!
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We decided to leave at intermission as it was already past bedtime. And to my shock, Zeke did not want to go. We stayed only a few more minutes, but it was long enough for Gus Trent to propose to his soon to be wife. Of course, then the kids wanted to ride in the carriage Gus had brought out for he and his betrothed to ride in. They were again disappointed, but I was glad that we got to see that super cool “surprise.”
Total Eclipse Was Totally Awesome! by John Dicks
Do you remember hearing a few weeks ago all the big hype about the “The Great American Eclipse” that was headed our way?
at goo.gl/UJKEf.
Granted, most times such grand events fail to live up the their billing. In this case, though, the eclipse far surpassed it!
How mathematicians had many, many years ago cyphered that specific timetable, I have no idea. But in my pocket was Siri on my iPhone and I confirmed that while Lincoln Beach, Oregon would be our nation’s first spot to see the sun slipping away starting at it’s west coast local time of 9:04 (and 36 seconds), it would take one hour, 12 minutes and 13 seconds to race all the way across the country to where we were waiting.
At least that’s the case if you were watching the celestial wonder from that sweet-spot referred to as the “Zone of Totality.” For us, we found it in Charleston, SC, on a friend’s boat in the Stono River, just a spit or so shy of where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean.
So began our countdown to 1:16:49 pm. Confident that Siri knew what she was talking about, we donned our glasses, stared overhead, and right on time, the moon starting eating into the bright yellow orange ball of the sun sitting in the sky.
Some years ago, a lifelong friend of mine accepted the opportunity of challenge with a move to Charleston. Unfortunately, you tend to lose touch when miles separate familiarity. Contact and conversation slip into decline.
It was our special cardboard eclipse glasses that we were wearing. I had ordered them long ago, and when they arrived from Amazon.com I wondered whether they were legitimate since they were so dark that I could see nothing with them on. When turned towards the sky, however, the sun’s light shone bright and it was fascinating to watch the moon begin to cover it with darkness.
Weren’t all the headlines shouting that it was one of those not to be missed, once-ina-lifetime experiences that you just had to be there?
Sometimes you just need a good excuse for a long postponed visit. We figured that with Charleston being the last bit of dry land to witness this rare total eclipse of the sun, spanning the nation from one ocean to the other, this was as good time as any and certainly better than most. Folks in Charleston were more than excited about all the attention showered on their southern city as being the last place on the planet to witness what was to be the sun disappearing in the middle of the day. It seemed, too, like there were lines everywhere, even at the gas stations, with people filling up, as one guy said, “just in case something goes wrong with this eclipse thing.” The Krispy Kreme doughnut shop was making a mint selling a special chocolate covered version of its normally white covered doughnut, naturally calling it their eclipse version. Hand lettered signs were in the windows of shops advising buyers that the business would be closed (at least from 2 pm till 3 pm at the local hardware store) so that the employees, too, could enjoy the special sights in the sky. We launched the idea to witness things by boat so that trees wouldn’t obscure our view. Naturally a few million others, or so it seemed, hatched the same perfect plan. Fortunately the South Carolina low country waterways had room for us all. We anchored in shallow water about an hour before the beginning of the eclipse, which we knew would begin at a precise time according to our exact GPS location as had been calculated and plotted on an amazing online Google map, found
each other, it appeared as if they suddenly snapped together, one on top of the other, with the moon, for once, seeming to take control as the big guy in the sky. Spontaneously, there was a collective and very loud gasp of awe from all of our new found friends in the boats around us. They were drowned out only by our own shouts of amazement. Truly, I was astonished and have never seen anything quite like it! Not only did the sky turn dark, but everything around us did, too. It wasn’t that pitch black dead of night dark, but the disconcerting kind, as in “why is it like this at 2:46 (and 29 seconds) in the afternoon?!” Quite eerie was that of a faint glow around the dark circle overhead which appeared like a hole in the sky through which we were staring. It was, of course, the sun’s halo-like corona causing this gorgeous glow and its radiating streams.
The moon’s job, of course, was to move, while in its orbit around our earth, to an exact location such that it completely blocked out the body of the sun. Sounds simple enough, but it seemed to take forever.
While the moon did an amazing job of blocking the sun, still it could not extinguish the normally hidden corona. It’s a crown of white flares from the sun’s surface which totally encircled the moon and is only visible during a total eclipse. Surprisingly, it’s also the safest moment for your eyes so we yanked off those silly glasses and were mesmerized by one of heaven’s greatest natural phenomenons.
People in the boats around us were in a festive mood. Kids were playing in the water. Adults were blaring music from preplanned playlists with tunes, of no surprise to anyone, like Total Eclipse of the Heart and Bad Moon Rising.
Perhaps even more surprising was to see pinkish red dots in the corona which are called Bailey’s beads. These occur where the moon slips by the sun and the rugged lunar topography lets beads of sunlight shine through the moon’s uneven surface.
A bit of anxiety began to occur when clouds drifted in and threatened to shut down the party. Quickly, a storm began to stir. Indeed it was a rather raging one with bold streaks of lightning landing to the north of us. Though still rather far away, the sky was getting darker and darker making the impending storm seem like a bold one was brewing.
Where we were, the delight of totality lasted less than two minutes. Yet, candidly, it was simply astonishing.
Suddenly we realized that it wasn’t the storm which was darkening the sky, but looked back to see that it was the dance of the moon and sun that were really starting their show.
Finally, the moon lost its grasp over the sun and began to slip away. Cheers erupted from the now dedicated new star gazers in the boats nearby. Yes, there was actually cheers; and applause being lifted towards a grand celestial bash.
When the eclipse was about 90% it looked through the glasses like the familiar finger nail shape of the moon when it just barely appears in the sky. That was when the excitement of anticipation began to build. People stopped their playing. Voices got quiet. Music was turned down. Attention was focused on the slow, slow pace of the moon racing to dim the final bit of sunshine. Frankly, it seemed to take forever, waiting, waiting, waiting. Then suddenly, almost as if two giant magnets in the sky got too close to
It was quiet, it was still, it was dark. It was even noticeably cooler than the insufferable weather we were otherwise weathering with a heat index nearing 100 degrees.
Winds whipped through the air. Lightning flashed closer. We remembered then that the storm was just behind us, and now was getting closer. We deemed it our cue to hoist anchor and head home. As we raced away from the storm, which was quickly approaching from behind, ahead of us towards shore we remained transfixed on the moon completing its journey while the sun was beginning for it what seemed the dawning of yet another bright new day.
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John Dicks is both a lawyer and businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a blueberry farm and have agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!” John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his law degree from Florida State University. He and his wife, Sharon, live in Plant City, where he served nine years as City Commissioner, including three terms as Mayor.
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THE
Annual Termite & Pest Control
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Recipes
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Florida Shrimp and Beef Tacos Chef Justin Timineri
q
Preparation
q
Beef Skewers
INGREDIENTS Beef Skewers 24 ounces Florida beef (tenderloin, sirloin or your favorite cut of beef) cut into 1-inch cubes 2 large Florida bell peppers (your favorite color), cut into 1-inch squares 2 large onions cut into 1-inch squares 8 bamboo skewers (soaked in water for 1 hour) or metal skewers Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste Cooking oil spray for grilling Shrimp Skewers
Make skewers by alternating the beef, peppers and onions. Make sure to put the same amount of beef, peppers and onions on each of the skewers. Lightly season the completed skewers with salt and pepper. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Lightly spray the skewers with the cooking oil spray. Carefully add the beef skewers to the grill and cook to desired temperature. When the desired temperature or doneness has been reached, remove the cooked skewers from the grill. Let the food rest for 3 minutes before serving them warm. Shrimp Skewers
1 pound large Florida shrimp, peeled and deveined with tail on 2 large Florida bell peppers (your favorite color), cut into 1-inch squares 2 large onions cut into 1-inch squares 8 bamboo skewers (soaked in water for 1 hour) or metal skewers Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste Cooking oil spray for grilling
Make skewers by alternating the shrimp, peppers and onions. Make sure to put the same amount of shrimp, peppers and onions on each of the skewers. Lightly season the completed skewers with salt and pepper. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Lightly spray the skewers with the cooking oil spray. Carefully add the shrimp skewers to the grill and cook until the shrimp are just done.
Skewer Marinade and Sauce
Skewer Marinade and Sauce
1/2 cup olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh garlic, minced 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon chili powder 2 tablespoons lime juice 1/4 cup fresh cilantro Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Combine olive oil, garlic, cumin, chili powder, cilantro and lime juice in a blender and puree until smooth. Use half of the marinade on the raw skewers. Taste marinade and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper Use the reserved unused half of the marinade as a sauce.
To make DIRECTIONS
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To make the shrimp and beef skewers into Tacos, serve with fresh salsa, Florida avocado, shredded lettuce and warm tortillas. Remove the beef or shrimp from the skewers.
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A Closer LookAmazing Activities Naturally
by Sean Green
Jacobs Ladder
Early pioneers of Florida made their own goods, including toys. Jacobs ladder was a popular toy that is known to exist in the late 19th Century, as evident in the publication Scientific America, October 12, 1889, in which a review of the toys construction and mechanics was featured. The name of the toy references the Biblical Jacobs ladder described in the book of Genesis (28:12). Because of the Biblical reference, Jacobs Ladder is one of the toys early puritan children were allowed to construct and play with. This month’s project is a modern version of Jacobs Ladder using readily available materials but still retains the spirit of the pioneer toys and lots of fun to make and use.
Materials:
• 1/8” 2x 24 (to be cut) OR 12 wooden slats (1/8” 2x2) * To be glued together to make 6 segments • Ribbon (1/8” wide) 2 ½ times total length (i.e. 6 slats x 2” = (12”) x 2.5 = 30”) • Wood glue • Binder Clips OPTIONAL: • Wood stain, polyurethane, • Brush, lint-free rag • Teak Oil (suggested) • Sand Paper (suggested) • Saw (if cutting your own slats) • Measure and cut 2x2 square slats • Holding two slats together, sand each pair to round the edges and corners * keep each set together for proper fit. • Lay out the slats • On the inside of the bottom slat, draw 3 guidelines for the ribbon. ------------------ These steps repeat -------------------------------• Spread glue on the bottom slat (the one with guidelines) • Glue the center ribbon to the bottom slat with the tail of the ribbon leading to the LEFT • Glue the two side ribbons to the bottom slat with the tail of the ribbon leading to the RIGHT • Spread glue on the top slat, carefully glue the set together. • Clap the set with binder clips, allow to dry for 30 minutes * You will glue only when the tails of the ribbon are facing this way. ------------------ These steps repeat ------------------------------------------------------------------• DO NOT GLUE...Fold the ribbons over the (now glued set) so the unglued tails are facing the opposite direction i.e.: center ribbon leads (Right), side ribbons lead (Left)
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• Repeat the above steps * When gluing the last set, cut the ribbon to prevent it from hanging out of the side.
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A Closer Look A Closer Look
by Sean Green
Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus ) This time of the year is the peak of the reproductive cycle for the Cicada Killer and it corresponds with the emergence of cicada in Florida. In other states, groups of cicada species are described as “periodical” because they synchronize their egg laying schedule (oviposition),and larval development to withhold adult cicada emergence for periods as long as 17 years. The mass emergence of “periodical” cicada is actually a defense mechanism that overwhelms predators with populations too enormous diminish. The reproductive behavior of the periodical cicada guarantees a breeding population will survive even after predators have had their fill. In Florida, however, our 19 species of resident cicada are classified as an “annual” species. Although they may take up to a decade to develop underground and complete their lifecycle, Florida cicada have emerging populations every year and our abundance of natural predators keep these populations in check. Among the many predators of cicada are birds, rodents, small mammals, reptiles, and fish but one of the most impressive predators, in my opinion, is the cicada killer, a large beneficial wasp belonging to the genus Specius. This month we’ll take a closer look at the characteristics and behavior of one of the largest members of the wasp family, the cicada killer wasp. Cicada killers (Sphecius) are a solitary species. They do not have the colony defense function of eusocial wasps such as paper wasps (Polistes). We have four species of cicada killer in North America, two of which are found in Florida. The Eastern cicada killer (Sphecius speciosus) is the most common of our Florida species and can be recognized by its black and yellow markings resembling yellowjacket or hornet. The cicada killer however, is much larger than other wasps and commonly measures up to two inches long. Another Florida resident, the Caribbean cicada killer (Sphecius hogardii), is somewhat rare and typically found in the Neotropic regions of what we call South Florida, which is roughly south off Sarasota County. The Caribbean cicada killer (Sphecius hogardii) can be recognized by a nearly solid rust orange coloration of the abdomen that is often, but not always, tipped in black. About 90 percent of a cicada’s life is spent in their underground burrow as larvae and pupae. New adults begin emerging around July; males first, followed by females a couple weeks later. These adults will only live for another three to six weeks to reproduce and complete their lifecycle. Unmated females emit a pheromone, which attracts males for mating. Once mated,
Successful hunting is just as exacting as the burrow location and is dependent on environmental conditions. According to studies conducted by Professor Chuck Holliday, the weather must be warm, sunny, and have a relative humidity of less than 90%. The female cicada killer is a formidable huntress and in research studies, has been observed meticulously winding her way up through the trees to survey each branch for cicada. Researchers report that more than twice as many female cicada are taken than are male cicada inferring that it is unlikely that cicada find their prey by sound (Dambach and Good, 1943). The female cicada killer hunts not for herself, but to feed her offspring. Adult cicada killer wasps feed on flower nectar and sap that flows through legions on the tree, but her offspring need to feed on adult cicada to develop. The female cicada killer hunts all day long, from 8:00am to 8:00pm to collect cicada that will be sealed into a larva chamber. Each chamber is a one room nursery for a single larva and one or more cicada for them to feed on. Female cicada killers must decide the sex of each egg before digging because her hunting strategy will change depending on the sex of the egg. The mated female stores sperm in small sacs called spermathecae. A male egg is the result of withholding sperm when she lays an egg. A female egg however, is created when sperm is released from the spermathecae as the egg passes through the oviduct. A female will leave the burrow after digging a nest chamber to hunt for cicada. Once an adult cicada is found, the wasp paralyses it with a single sting and begins the daunting task of getting it back to the burrow. This is no easy task because the adult cicada is often two or three times heavier than the wasp and difficult to fly with. Research-
ers have observed wasps climbing up trees with the cicada in their clutches to launch themselves from an appropriate height to glide, rather than fly, as close as possible to her burrow, then drag the victim to their demise. If the egg is a male, the chamber gets one cicada and if female, two or more cicada. The cicada is placed within the brood cell, paralyzed, but alive and a single egg is deposited onto the cicada. She is, again, very particular about egg placement, it is always placed on the underside of the thorax under the right or left second leg. This extreme precision is apparently necessary to keep the egg and larva safe from the occasional twitching of the paralyzed prey’s legs and mouthparts. When you hear the call of the cicada, if you look in the right place, you may just find swarms of monster size wasps hovering a couple feet above the ground. These are likely to be the cicada killer and are to focused on hunting cicada to be a danger to human beings. Cicada activity began ramping up in June, but August and September are the most active month for most species of cicada in Florida. Many will begin to die off in October with only a few species making it through November into December. It is likely you will find many dead cicada killer wasps that have finished their lifecycle, the dead wasps are safe to carefully pick up and examine so long as the stinger end is carefully avoided. Although the wasp is dead, one could suffer a passive sting from the protruding stinger. Chuck Holliday, emeritus professor of biology, at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania once maintained a web site to host his nearly 30 years of research of cicada killer wasps (Spheciu), from its archives, an amazing account of the biology, physiology and systematics of the cicada killer wasps contribute to a substantial body of knowledge making the cicada killer wasp a better understood insect than the cicada it hunts. Much of professor Holliday’s research was the basis of this article and much more information about this species can be accessed from the archived web site at the following url: h t t p : // w e b . a r c h i v e . o r g / web/20150202003919/http://web.archive.org:80/web/20141022032916/ http://sites.lafayette.edu/hollidac/research/biology-of-cicada-killer-wasps INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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the female will reject other males, sometimes violently, and begin searching for a nesting location. She is fussy about location, her ideal burrow will be made in well drained grass or ivy covered sand with an eastern or southern exposure that is close to deciduous trees hosting plenty of cicada. Once an ideal site is located, she spends hours digging a burrow, then walks and flies around the opening making a series of “orientation passes.” Her orientation passes have an oval flight pattern back and forth extending farther from her borrow each time, often as far as 20 yards, until she has memorized the area surrounding her burrow, only then will she begin to hunt.
By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff
Trespassing FAQs
To the average homeowner, fears of someone trespassing on their property is probably not something that keeps them awake at night. However, for the agricultural community members who own large properties and groves, trespassing is an issue that must be taken seriously.
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What exactly defines trespassing, when it comes to the law? In simple terms, it is the crime committed when someone goes onto someone else’s land without permission, especially if the person has been warned or if there is a warning sign posted. Florida State Statute 810 defines the crime as “A person who, without being authorized, licensed, or invited, willfully enters upon or remains in any property other than a structure or conveyance: As to which notice against entering or remaining is given, either by actual communication to the offender or by posting, fencing, or cultivation or If the property is the unenclosed curtilage of a dwelling and the offender enters or remains with the intent to commit an offense thereon, other than the offense of trespass, commits the offense of trespass on property other than a structure or conveyance. As used in this section, the term “unenclosed curtilage” means the unenclosed land or grounds, and any outbuildings, that are directly and intimately adjacent to and connected with the dwelling and necessary, convenient, and ha-
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bitually used in connection with that dwelling. Except as provided in this subsection, trespass on property other than a structure or conveyance is a misdemeanor of the first degree.” It’s plain and simple: if someone does not have permission to be on someone else’s property, don’t go on it. This especially includes groves, pastures, cultivated property, and undeveloped lands. There are more reasons not to trespass than just because it is against the law. We have had instances where trespassers have been electrocuted, injured, or endangered by animals. Those arrested for trespassing not only go to jail, but face court costs, loss of property (fishing equipment, vehicles, etc.), loss of freedom, and/or a criminal record. What can landowners do to protect their property and those who work on their property? Some practical tips include: · Instruct all employees about trespass laws and how to respond if an unauthorized person is discovered on the property (call law enforcement immediately). WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
· Place “Posted - No Trespassing” signs at all entrances to the property and every 200 yards around the boundary of the property. · Install physical barriers such as gates, fences, hedges, and/or trees at entrances and along the roadside frontage to deter people from walking or driving on the property. · Plant vegetative screens to block the view of ponds. · Install alarms and motion detectors on buildings. · Call the Sheriff’s Office or the local law enforcement agency if an intruder comes on the property, or threatens anyone. · Do not point a gun or brandish any weapon at trespassers, as this could lead to violence and also provide the trespasser with “ammunition” for a punitive damages claim in court. Similarly, do not provoke a fight, threaten reprisals, or use profanity. Please contact law enforcement and let them deal with the trespassers. As always, however, landowners, managers, and other employees have a right to defend and protect themselves from eminent danger. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has the Agricultural Watch Program, which was developed as a means to better identify ownership of agriculture properties in Polk County for law enforcement. The program consists of a “No Trespassing By Order of The Sheriff” sign listing the property/business owner’s name and a code number. The code number displayed provides deputies on patrol instant access to owner information and
agent agreements. This program is open to qualified Agri-businesses or persons whose interest is in, and limited to, agriculture related activities. The Agricultural Watch Program Packet will need to be completed and returned to PCSO. Qualified participants may purchase the metal signs, which are custom made to order for the participant, for only $14.98 each, including tax. Sales of the “Agriculture Watch” signs benefit the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 900. If you are interested in participating in the program, please contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Agricultural Crimes Unit at (863) 534-7205 or (863) 298-6200. We also encourage agricultural community members to become familiar with our deputies and supervisors in the Agricultural Unit. Please give us a call at (863) 534-7205 and arrange a time to meet our deputies whose job it is to help you protect your agricultural properties, people, and assets.
813-628-0600 FLAORGANIC.COM
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2017
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Polk County Cattle Women August proved to be a busy month and September is quickly following suite. My thoughts and prayers go out to those in Texas still dealing with the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey. The amount of destruction left from the storm is something that will likely impact both the region and the U.S. economy for quite some time.
846-6221 or visit www.ranchrodeofinals.com for more information. All of the weekend’s events will run simultaneously to the Cowboy Heritage Festival which features Florida ranch history, educational exhibits and arts and craft displays. The Cowboy Heritage Festival is a free event. Rodeo tickets are $10, children 10 and under are free.
Here locally preparations are being made for the upcoming Florida Ranch Rodeo Finals and Cowboy Heritage Festival. The events will be Friday and Saturday September 29 - 30 at the Silver Spurs Arena, 1875 Silver Spur Ln, Kissimmee, FL 34744. Friday’s events begin at 8 a.m. with the Working Florida Cowdog Competition. The first round of rodeo finals will start at 7 p.m. Saturday’s festivities start at 10 a.m. with the Working Ranch Horse Competition. The last round of finals will begin at 7 p.m.
If you are interested in joining us, our next meeting is Tuesday October 3. We will meet in the Valencia Room in the main building at the Polk County Agriculture Complex 1702 US Hwy 17 S, Bartow. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. I hope to see you there!
There will also be a steak supper starting at 4 p.m. on the 30th. Tickets are limited, if you are interested in purchasing them please call 407-
Megan Atkinson
Polk County Cattle Women President
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2017
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Be good and do good deeds,
Classifieds
Tel: 813.759.6909
ANIMALS & NEEDS ANIMAL & BIRDCAGES
Equipment serving the fur bearing animal & exotic bird industry! Cages built to order. Wire by roll or foot. (813) 752-2230. Call Don Ammerman. www.ammermans.com July 16, 2017, Nov. 26, 2017
BUILDING SUPPLIES METAL ROOFING
Thousands of 8ft. & 10ft. sheets. In Stock. Prices from $6 and up. Custom lengths available. 813-752-7088 ask for Ferris.
ALUMINUM
We have all your aluminum needs! Screen Room, carports & awnings. Call Blake (813) 752-3378
WINDOW SCREENS
We make window screens of all sizes available in different frame colors. Call Ted(813) 752-3378
CABINETS
All wood kitchen cabinets. All wood vanities. Granite counter tops. Custom made to your size. Call Blake 813-752-3378
T-111
4X8 sheets 4” on center. $26.95 Call Blake 813-752-3378
Info@inthefieldmagazine.com
2004 KUBOTA M120
Tractor with cab and Loader. $22,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
USED MOWERS
Zero turn mowers. Good Condition. Price starts at $1,000. Call Alvie 813-759-8722
2015 MASSEY FERGUSON
1739ELL Tractor w/ loader. 243 hours, 4x4, 39hp, hst. Warranty!! $16,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
1998 MASSEY FURGUSON 4253
Tractor 95hp, 4x4 open station with loader. $15,000 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FMC 352
Air Blast Sprayer. Good condition. $3,500.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
7X15 LAWN TRAILER
MECHANIC NEEDED Agricultural equipment. Pay with benefits based on experience. Call Alvie 813-759-8722
Now Hiring Experienced Barn Builders 813-754-1766 HIRING Agriculture / Grove Equipment tractor parts sales person. Experience a plus, Computer skills a must! Call 813-759-8722 or 863-537-1345
Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17. Come out and see us!
REAL ESTATE
MOBILE HOME SUPPLIES
Everything you need under ONE roof! Call Blake 813-752-3378
CALL FOR A WINDOW QUOTE.
We are a Simonton/MI Windows dealer. Our windows are energy star, lifetime warranty. Call Broke & Poor 813-752-3378
FARM EQUIPMENT TAYLOR WAY TILLER DISC Plow - good condition. $1750.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
MAHINDRA 2015
Tractor w/ Loader, 4x4, 20hp. $7,950 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
ROSSI CADDY 8 HAY RAKE Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FOR SALE KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES
DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Many standard sizes in stock. Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
RUSTIC MOUNTAIN LOG HOME
On 5.2 acres. Provides seclusion, privacy & enjoyable atmosphere for peaceful living. 1bedroom, 2 baths on main level. Loft & 2 bedrooms & full bath. Fireplace in living room. Large side deck, front covered porch. Large unfinished basement for storage and workshop. Great mountain home for full time living or weekend getaway. Only 10 minutes to Blairsville. MLS ID#268378 $239,00 Jane Baer Realty & Associates. Call Jane (706)745-2261
4X4, 65 hp with loader. 1,000 hours. $17,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
MAHINDRA 4530
Tractor with loader. 4X4, 44hp. $15,000 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FOR SALE BY OWNER
2 beautiful adjoining farms. 26 acres, all muck land. Lovely 4 bedroom home. Includes small beef heard & calves. $737,000 www.floridabeulah.com 813-541-3490
Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the BIG Box STORES! Call Today! Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
2005 MAHINDRA 6500
MISC.
**FOR SALE**
2005 MAHINDRA 6500
Tractor with loader. 65hp, 4X4, 1,000 hrs. $17,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
KUBOTA G5200-HSAT
Kubota diesel tractor with ground driven manure spreader. $900 Call Bill 813-986-6337
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JOBS
FRESH PRODUCE
Metal brand new in bo 54” Mobile Home Tubs Call Ted (813) 752-3378 $199.00
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
8ft pasture roller $300. Massey Ferguson Disk Plow, 3 26” blades $200, 5ft Maletti Rotavator $700, 6ft Gannon Rolover Grader Blade, $300, 50 gal sprayer w/ handgun & rear boom, 3 pt hitch, $50. Call 863-293-7283
Used Lawn Trailer with aluminum plate tool box. 5ft tongue & heavy duty gate. $1,650 Call LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES Alvie 813-759-8722 BRAND NEW HUSTLER RAPTOR Zero Turn Mower 52” cut, 23hp. Kohler FOR RENT engine, 3 year warranty. $2,999 Millcreek Pine Bark Row Mullcher. Call Alvie 813-759-8722 For blueberry farms, six yard, PTO drive need at least a 30hp PRODUCE tractor. Call 863-604-2526 for rental details.
MOBILE HOME TUBS
46
FOR SALE
September 2017
Schlitter Encore Recumbent I purchased this bike brand new in May 2017. It has less that 75 miles on it. Its a carbon frame 700c wheelbase. 52/39/30 FSA triple crank with carbon crank arms. Vuelta Corsa Lite wheel set. This bike is clean and kept inside. Asking 3,100 Call 813-758-3864
FREE
Wooden Shipping Pallets All sizes! Call Alvie 813-759-8722
RUBBER MULCH
All Colors, buy 10 bags, get 1 FREE! $8.99 a bag. Call Ted (813) 752-3378
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2017
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2017
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM