In The Field magazine Polk edition

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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3012 S. Jim Redman Pkwy. (Hwy. 39 S) Plant City, FL • southsidestores.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE March 2013 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE August 12021

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CONTENTS

August 2021 VOL. 14 • ISSUE 11

28 JACOB SHIRAH HUNTING GATORS

PAGE 10 Scott Angle

PAGE 32 PCSO

PAGE 11 Agvocating for youth

PAGE 34 Research Grant

PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots

PAGE 35 News Briefs PAGE 36 John Dicks PAGE 37 Reduce Pollutants

PAGE 16 Back to the Future

PAGE 38 Endangered Species

PAGE 18 State FFA Officer PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter

PAGE 40 Activity

PAGE 41 A Closer Look

PAGE 24 John Hoblick

PAGE 42 Madison Keller

PAGE 25 Pluots PAGE 26 Regenerative Farming

PAGE 44 Hemp PAGE 47 PCCW

PAGE 30 Garden Planning

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. 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 – Dave Tomkow 3305 US Highway 92 E Lakeland, FL 33801-9623 (863) 665-5088 dave@cattlemens1.com Vice President – Ken Sherrouse 13475 Moore Rd Lakeland, FL 33809-9755 (863) 698-1834 kensherrouse@yahoo.com Secretary/Treasurer - Justin Bunch PO Box 849 Highland City, FL 33846 (863) 425-1121 justin.bunch@cpsagu.com

Cover Image by Melissa Nichols

PAGE 12 Thoughts from the Heifers Pen

Polk County Cattlemen’s Association

2021

State Director - David Hunt 9699 Alt Bab Pk Cut-Off Rd Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 287-1835 Dhunt285@aol.com Alternate SD – Orrin Webb PO Box 202 Bartow, FL 33831 (941) 916-5093 cwebbowebb@aol.com Ray Clark 4484 Swindell Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 640-0719 rclark@tampabay.rr.com Donald Conroy 3882 Wolfolk Rd Fort Meade, FL 33841 (863) 412-0790 Stuart Fitzgerald PO Box 1437 Lake Wales, FL 33859 (813) 478-8141 stuartcattlellc@yahoo.com Kevin Fussell 4523 Fussell Rd Polk City, FL 33868-9676 (863) 412-5876 Scott Shoupe 6130 Allen Lane Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 581-7593 Scott_shoupe@hotmail.com Carlton Taylor 9875 Hancock Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 858-1771 L2brangus@aol.com

Dr. Lujean Waters 8750 Shreck Rd Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 537-1495 Lujean.waters@gmail.com Standing Committee Chairs: Membership Events- Kevin Fussell Trade Show- Bridget Stice Rodeo- Fred Waters PO Box 463 Alturas, FL 33820-0463 (863) 559-7808 Website – Adam Norman 2115 West Pipkin Rd Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 944-9293 Adamnorman1977@gmail. com Leslie Buchanon P.O. Box 1212 Bartow, FL 33831 863-581-2711 Buckld96@gmail.com Extension – Bridget Stice PO Box 9005, Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL 33831 (863) 519-1048 bccarlis@ufl.edu Sheriff’s Dept. – Lt. Paul Wright 1891 Jim Keen Blvd.

Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 557-1741 pw5281@polksheriff.org Sgt. Tim Sanders 1891 Jim Keen Blvd.

Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 656-6119 brusso@polksheriff.org Warner University – Casey Wingate 7155 Wauchula Rd Myakka City, FL 34251 (941) 600-5772 Casey.wingate@warner.edu

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STAFF

Letter from the Editor

Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez

Can you stand another story about growing up in Kentucky? If you can’t, stop reading now.

I grew up in what is considered the Ohio Valley area of Kentucky surrounded by hills. We lived in a “holler” on my grandparent’s farm. If you don’t know the definition of a holler, it’s a valley in Eastern Kentucky language. It was very rural but oh so beautiful.

The property was purchased by my great grandfather sometime prior to 1908.

The house my grandfather grew up in was falling in by the time I came around.

Interestingly enough, though the house was falling in, the barns still stood as strong as the day they were built. As to my memory, it was astonishingly beautiful; like something from a movie. My brother and I played in the clear creeks with no concern of any contamination. The grass was lush and interspersed with wildflowers in a variety of blazing colors.

The cattle in our neck of the woods didn’t have nice flat pasture. They grazed the hillsides and hilltops. The hilltops could be easily navigated, the hillsides were crisscrossed with paths made by the cattle so they could traverse the land a little more efficiently.

I love living in Florida. It is my home, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. But sometimes I miss my old Kentucky home.

Photography Karen Berry Melissa Nichols Blair Buchanon Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks Social Media Victoria Saunders

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

Until Next Month

Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25

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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3305 HY 92 E LAKELAND, FL 33801

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CONSIGNMENTS ONLY

Hello to all, not a lot to talk about this month. Pretty much countywide everyone has gotten some rain this month, but not too much. I hope we can stay out of the tropical weather for the rest of the season and those of us who have hay to cut can get it harvested without any problem.

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The cow calf market is still holding up. The calf prices are still creeping up weekly.

Cows have been pretty steady for the past month. I would also like to give a good resource for anyone who has a question on ag related matters. Our Polk County Extension Agent Bridget Carlisle Stice is an

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excellent source for all ag related matters.

As always, don’t forget about your herd health. Worming and vaccines go a long way. Do what you can do without hurting yourself financially.

Dave Tomkow Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President

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FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD

By J. Scott Angle

Shannon Carnevale and Lara Milligan are talking from opposite a finger at farmers is not only oversimplifying the problem, it ends of the rural-urban divide with a shared voice on the sci- diverts attention from a more comprehensive approach to proence of natural resources. It’s science that I believe is essential tecting our natural resources. to your future farming success.

There’s a supply issue as well. As Milligan points out, Florida’s Polk and Hillsborough’s natural resources make agriculture residential and commercial water use exceeds what’s used on possible. Crops and cattle rely on clean water. Pollinators con- farms. tribute to a third of what we eat. Farms produce more than food—they “produce” wildlife habitat, flood protection and air Everyone needs to participate, because everyone lives in a watershed, Carnevale and Milligan remind us. It’s a message quality. that public scientists embedded in your community carry with Carnevale and Milligan’s public conversation aims to educate credibility and without judgment. They’re talking to you as scifarmers and urbanites alike that these are public goods that entists, but also as friends and neighbors. improve their lives. As the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Polk County natural re- We at UF/IFAS also bridge the rural-urban divide through edusources agent, Carnevale works in one of the state’s leading cation. Carnevale and Milligan met when both were students in citrus and cattle counties. Milligan, as the UF/IFAS Extension what is now known as the UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, Pinellas County natural resources agent, represents the state’s and Geomatics Sciences, and they’ve built on that relationship through professional collaborations that started with wildlife most densely populated county. webinars before they launched the podcast this year.

You can hear that conversation on “Naturally Florida,(natural lyfloridapodcast.com)” their podcast that delivers science in Naturally Florida episodes have also focused on green anoles, the language of the average listener. One recent episode is Cuban tree frogs and even fireflies. Upcoming episodes will filled with practical advice for reducing the polluting effects of cover urban forestry, the giant cane toad, and lightning safety. stormwater: • Direct drainpipes from gutters into your lawn where the water You can download the podcast on several podcast platforms, can be absorbed and filtered, not into your driveway where it and you can ask questions or suggest topics at the podcast website. You’ll find that you share common challenges with carries pollutants into stormwater drains.

• Do not wash your car in the driveway, instead wash it over folks who aren’t your neighbors, and you share the same scigrass. If you live in an apartment or area without a yard, take it ence—what’s true of the natural world in a townhouse is also to a commercial car wash where the water is properly treated. true in the greenhouse.

Beyond the how-tos and hacks is an important message that agriculture and natural resources are not at odds but tied together. As UF’s vice president for agriculture and natural resources, I’m often dispelling the notion that the two parts of my title represent a dichotomy.

Carnevale explains in the podcast that Polk County sits at the headwaters of seven watersheds. That means every drop of water that falls off a roof or onto a lawn could end up in one of seven different rivers that the Polk and Hillsborough communities rely upon for their physical and economic health.

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Carnevale and Milligan acknowledge that agriculture, too, must do more to support Florida’s water resources. But overall, their message is that while there are many water users in the community and potential sources of pollutants, pointing

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I tell people around the state that groves and ranches reduce our environmental impact. If market forces drive those lands out of existence and transform them into subdivisions, they instead become platforms for stormwater carrying pollutants instead of sponges for groundwater that recharges our aquifer.

Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

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Agvocating for Youth

by Payge Dupre Happy August! As we go back into school this month and round out July, this past month was definitely busy for us all.

As for myself, July rounded out with attending the National Junior Brangus Show in Belton, Texas. This was a busy week for all, and we also had other juniors from Polk County in attendance – including Carlee Taylor, Truman Taylor, Annabelle Thornton, Cassidy Polston and Casey Harper. The Taylor family represented extremely well, winning Ultra Show Heifer of the Year with CT Special Lady 814G, Ultra Cow Calf Pair of the Year with CT Something Special 698E, and Ultra Dam of the Year with HF Brandy 814B at the 50th Anniversary Brangus Futurity Banquet. Carlee was recognized for her exhibition within the National point shows for the past year on that evening. Carlee also placed and participated in other contests as Nationals, working her way up to earn High Point Junior Exhibitor! Madilyn Nichols was not able to attend in person but submitted a photo to the photography contest and placed seond in the Novice division. Annabelle Thornton was able to participate in numerous PeeWee competitions as well as the costume contest. Cassidy Polston was able to make it to the Senior Showmanship Finals and made us extremely proud.

Casey Harper was not able to participate as a junior member but attended as the International Brangus Queen and handed her crown and sash down to myself at our banquet. It is super exciting to announce that we have not only kept the crown in Florida, but also within Polk County for another year.

Over the course of the next year, I will have the opportunity to travel across the country to numerous Brangus shows, sales, and other events to speak, work, and represent the entire Brangus breed. Next year at Nationals, I will then have the opportunity to set up a hospitality room, reflect on my year of service, set up a silent auction for our incoming Queen, and at the end of the week I will crown our next International Brangus Queen. I am super excited to see what the year will bring for me!

We also still have lots of deadlines and dates ahead for the 2022 Polk County Youth Fair! Lamb Lottery Selection and Tagging Day is September 4 at 10:00 AM. Market Hog entries are due September 13 but accepted September 14-17 with a late

As we enter the new school year, I am hopeful that this can be another “normal” year. If all goes well, we should stick to in-person FFA contests throughout the year, as well as conferences and meetings. No matter what may happen, I hope you all stay safe and healthy!

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fee. Market Hog mandatory meetings will be either September 16 at 7:00 PM or September 18 at 9:00 AM. Blueberry, Citrus, Ornamental Plants, and Plants for Display entries are due October 1 but accepted October 2-7 with a late fee. Horses must be owned/leased or cared for by October 1. The mandatory horse exhibitor meetings will be either October 2 at 10:00 AM or October 14 at 7:00 PM. There will be a mandatory horticulture workshop for Ornamental Plants on October 2 at 10:00 AM. Market Hog Tagging day will be October 2 from 6:30-10:00 AM. Archery Competition entries are due October 8 but accepted October 9-15 with a late fee. There will be two archery safety and training sessions with a date to be determined and attendance mandatory to one of the two sessions. Beef breeding, commercial heifer, breeding goat, horse, poultry & eggs, and rabbit entries are due November 1 but accepted November 2-30 with a late fee (excluding horses which are accepted November 2-8 with a late fee).

Mandatory market goat tagging, and goat and lamb clinic will be held November 13. December 1, all Chili Cook Off entries are due as well as vegetable ownership deadline and entries, bedding plants, hanging baskets ownership deadline, and dog entry deadline. Vegetable and dog late entries will be accepted December 2-6 with a late fee. December 10 copies of buyer letters to two potential buyers are due to the PCYF office for cake auction, blueberry, citrus, peach, ornamental plants, market hogs, market steers and commercial heifers.

If you are showing blueberries, citrus, peach, or ornamental plants and miss the December 10 deadline, you can still send in your letters from December 11-January 1 with a late fee.

Whip Popping entries are due January 3. Scrap off entries are due January 7. January 17 is the final date for online entries to Family & Consumer Sciences with no paper entries allowed and January 23 is the registration deadline for the Top Ranch Hand contest.

By Marisol Tarango

THOUGHTS FROM THE HEIFER PEN aesthetic” most ranchers go for; rubber boots are big, clumsy, and just dorky, but they keep your feet and pants dry. Second, if you are going out to catch a horse or work cows in the pens, and you choose to wear rubber boots, then you have to go through the chore of switching into your riding boots from your rubber boots when it’s time to get on your horse. And God forbid you get that snorty colt all saddled and sacked out… and you realize that you left your cowboy boots and spurs at the house. There is also the chance that a dog can run off with your This logic is often learned from a very young age among ranch- riding boots while you are sacking out said snorty colt. What’s ing kids. Mostly, first, while watching their parent’s frustration a ranch kid to do? when they did not pack something, or the kid accidentally unpacked something. (This is also why you double check before My advice would be to go through the hassle of the rubber you take something out of your dad’s truck while helping him boots. Having to finish your chores in soaking wet boots is not clean it out.) Later on, ranch kids usually learn this from their fun, and there is not a guarantee that they will dry before you own frustration of forgetting something or by taking that mar- have to wear them again. You also will have to deal with stiff, dry boots until you get a chance to oil them. There is also the ginal risk that ended up landing within the margins. risk of getting mud caked on your cowboy boots, even when Consider the classic cowboy dilemma of whether to wear rub- you get the big chunks of mud off it can still take days to get all ber boots or your cowboy boots. Countless times when I went of the mud and non-mud stuff completely off your boots. out to catch my horse in the Florida summer, I had to weigh Now, considering all these logical reasons I have lined out, do my options of whether to wear my rubber boots or my cow- I always wear my rubber boots when I should? No… again no. boy boots. If it had just finished raining a miniature monsoon, Sometimes it’s because I honestly miscalculated the risks or then there was no doubt that I would be wearing my rubber did not perceive any risk at all. A lot of the time I walk out of the boots. More than likely, I would end up wading through water house and just don’t feel like going back in to get my rubber that almost came over my boots, especially if I was going after boots, or I just want to wear my cowboy boots after a day in the one of the horses that were particularly smart, because they office. Do I sometimes regret this? Yes. Does this only apply to would end up walking to the middle of a large puddle. (Yes, wearing rubber boots in my life? No. Sometimes, I don’t pack there have been times where when I had to take my shoes off enough lunch because “that should be enough,” but when I and wade out to catch a horse.) On the other hand, if there was get off work, I make a beeline to the closest drive -thru. A lot only a light shower in the beginning of the rainy season or if of times, I don’t make a list of what I need to get from the store there hadn’t been any rain in the last couple of days, there was “because I have a great memory” only to return home without a chance that you could get away with just your cowboy boots. the main item. And on days that I feel like throwing care to the A small chance mind you… there were plenty of days where I wind, I leave the house with my hair down and no hair tie in my pocket. came home with soaked boots.

If you have been in the ranching business for any amount of time, you probably know that if there is a chance of something happening, especially if it is unpleasant or not what you want to happen, it’s going to happen. The moment that you decide to leave your slicker at home because of a low forecast of rain or take that one tool out of the truck because you hardly ever need it, you are going to need it. The moment that you think “We’ll be alright without it” you probably will not.

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Now, you might not think it is a big deal having to wear rubber So, just wear your rubber boots. Everyone is cool in their cowboots instead of cowboy boots, and in reality, it’s not. But when boy boots until they get wet. prudence has to wrestle with cowboy vanity, it’s a big deal. mtranchersdaughter@gmail.com First, rubber boots just do not enhance the whole “cowboy

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Warm Summer Waters + Bacteria Can =Serious Infections Capt. Woody Gore

Cut yourself cleaning an infected fish, cut your foot on a bad shell, or which one of those dozen raw oysters are you playing Russian Roulette with? Remember, it only takes one.

When summer water temperatures climb into the higher ranges. Anyone consuming raw seafood, fishing, working, and playing in or around the water should know that at least two severe forms of bacteria exist.

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Since I am not a medical professional, please do not construe this as medical advice; instead, as information only that these potentially infectious bacteria exist in that environment. The names of these bacteria are Vibrio Vulnificus (VIB-ree-o/ vul-NIF-i-cus) and Mycobacterium Marinum (my·co·bac·te·ri·um). They are found in rivers, lakes, bays, and especially saltwater environments throughout the world and should never be taken lightly, both can be extremely dangerous and sometimes lethal.

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tered the body. Since most anglers receive cuts and punctures on their hands and arms, the nodules frequently appear there first. Therefore, it can take several weeks for a nodule to appear because of its slow development, later becoming an enlarging sore (or ulcer), causing nearby lymph nodes to swell.

Antibiotics usually combat this infection but require extended treatment periods for up to six months or more. Anytime you notice a nodule or reddening following sore contact with fresh or saltwater, or after handling or cleaning fish, you should contact a medical professional telling them what you suspect.

As angler’s, sometimes we encounter fish that just do not look right, having skin nodules, ulcers, or sores. While there are no documented health issues related to eating cooked infected fish, common sense should alert you to potential dangers if you handle them with an open wound. In addition, you certainly want to avoid eating infected fish, if for no other reason than to play it safe.

Mycobacterium Marinum: Starting with Mycobacterium Marinum, also known as Fish-handlers’ Nodules, Swimming Pool Granuloma, Fish Tank Granuloma, or Surfers Nodules, it is a slow-growing bacterium found in fresh and saltwater throughout the world, causing infections in fish and humans. Although rare in people, they occur in those with cuts, scrapes, punctures, or open wounds, especially when handling or cleaning fish, swimming or working in fresh or saltwater or just cleaning your aquarium.

Vibrio Vulnificus: Hanging on the wall in an old north Florida seafood restaurant was a bearably readable sign. The sign read, “The man that ate the first oyster was a brave man.” A cute analogy indeed based on the appearance of this odd little creature that filters water to get its food. However, based on today’s exploding population growth, environmental issues, and questionable water quality, it is probably an understatement.

The most frequent sign associated with Mycobacterium Marinum is a slowly developing nodule, called a Granuloma (localized inflammation and raised areas of skin), at the location the bacteria en-

Like Mycobacterium Marinum, it is associated more with underwater injuries in saltwater. And at least 11 species of the Vibrio bacteria exist throughout the world, contributing to human infections.

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However, the Vibrio Vulnificus strain accounts for the most common infections associated with consuming raw shellfish, like oysters and clams. Not just limited to ingestion, it can enter the body through an open wound when exposed to saltwater.

A naturally occurring marine organism is living and thriving in warm seawater throughout most shallow coastal areas.

Unable to see, taste, or smell, this highly invasive bacterium gives cause for particular concern. Contaminated seawater, serving as a host, allows the organism to enter the body through open wounds or sores.

In addition, it sometimes can travel quickly into the bloodstream, causing a potentially fatal illness.

Eating raw or improperly cooked shellfish can result in an infection. In fact, all individuals consuming foods contaminated with this organism are susceptible to Gastroenteritis (irritation and inflammation of the digestive tract). However,

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Remember, a delay in proper medical treatment could lead to real problems. Although infections are rare, for a few people they can be pretty severe.

Any infection from these bacteria could result in hospitalization, amputation, and possibly death. If that cut you received several weeks ago does not seem to get any better, contact your personal physician or go to the hospital immediately.

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in persons with liver disease or immune deficiencies, the bacteria can infect the bloodstream, causing a severe and often life-threatening infection.

Health conditions like liver disease, hepatitis, HIV, diabetes, or kidney disease put you at risk for severe illness or death.

If you must consume raw oysters or shellfish, remember, in doing so you greatly enhance the probability of infection, especially during the warmer months. So why take a chance?

Think of it as playing Russian roulette with a tray of raw oysters. Which one is infected and which one is not and can you tell?

Back to the Future: Citrus breeders look to ancient varieties for modern-day answers

By Ruth Borger

C. ryukyuensis fruit. CREDIT: Courtesy, Dr. Fred Gmitter, UF/IFAS.

In the ongoing race to find a solution to the devastating citrus greening disease, University of Florida scientists may find the path to the future by looking to the past.

In a new study, published in Nature Communications, UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences collaborated with an international team of scientists and analyzed 69 genomes from the East Asian mandarin family, alongside their mainland Asian relatives, revealing a far-ranging story of isolation, long-distance travel and hybridization.

The resulting tale of plant migration and survival over millions of years should inspire citrus breeders, who are dedicated to finding disease-resistant and tolerant citrus for Florida growers.

How modern citrus developed, particularly the popular mandarin variety, has been a mystery to global citrus breeders.

This global partnership of scientists unraveled a big part of the mystery by analyzing the genome sequences of 69 east Asian traditional, wild and atypical citrus.

Their findings? The complexity of many varieties can be traced to three previously unrecognized ancestral lineages, including the discovery of a new wild citrus species native to the Ryukyu islands, a chain of Japanese islands that stretch southwest from Kyushu to Taiwan.

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From one lineage, an important citrus trait arose, “apomixis,” or the ability of the tree to reproduce seedlings that are genetically identical to the mother tree; the spread of this trait throughout the broad citrus family was documented, as all oranges, grapefruit, lemons and most citrus rootstocks possess this characteristic.

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And, along with the new, wild species identified on the island of Okinawa, this characteristic was responsible in part for the creation and spread of new “hybrid” citrus species native to Japan in a rare evolutionary mechanism. These traditional Japanese citrus, Tachibana and Shiikuwasha, are of great cultural significance, but their origins and relationships with other citrus are long- standing mysteries that now have been revealed. Perhaps most importantly, the results also provide insights into future breeding strategies that may produce more desirable and marketable commercial citrus.

Citrus origins lie in Asia and are documented in Chinese, Japanese and other Asian cultural history, art and literature.

“It is humbling to realize that the fruit we grow and eat today is the result of millions of years of both wild evolution and domestic cultivation,” said Fred Gmitter, UF/IFAS horticulture professor and member of the international research team. “Our findings raise more questions about what other citrus hybrids are out there and what characteristics may be beneficial to us as we look to breed more disease resistant and environmental stress resilient varieties. Understanding the past is really a window to the future.”

Members of the international team include: Guohong Albert Wu with the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute at the University of California-Berkeley; Chikatoshi Sugimoto and Chika Azama – both with the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST); Hideyasu Kinjo and Fumimasa Mitsube -- both with the Okinawa Prefectural Agricultural Research Center; Manuel Talon with the Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias; and Daniel S. Rokhsar with OIST, the Joint Genome Institute and the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UC-Berkeley.

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NEW BEGINNINGS Tyler Brannan Florida FFA Area IV State Vice President

The much anticipated 93rd Florida FFA State Convention and Expo was a nostalgic and refreshing experience for our members and organization that concluded an interesting year, to say the least. The ability to meet face-to-face once again in such an uncertain time was a delightful experience for our members and guests.

Just as we hoped for convention, the movement towards inperson events and activities is looking more likely each day as we persevere and stay safe amongst this pandemic. The Florida FFA Association is excited to begin a school year that will foster connection and reconnection within our chapters, communities, and organization as a whole. The relationships that we build within our organization and community can serve as a powerful tool for progressive action towards our mission. As we move forward this year, the 2021-2022 State Officer Team has the intention of encouraging inclusivity and advocacy for the agriculture industry throughout the state of Florida and our great nation.

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Of course, we are all excited for students to return to school for an amazing year of agriculture education. The expansion of agricultural opportunities in Florida has allowed our members to expand their horizons and experience the wealth of knowledge agriculture has to offer. Our Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE), Career Development Events (CDE), and Leadership Development Events (LDE) have cultivated a healthy learning environment in and out of the classroom.

These areas of our organization can be found within the three-circle model that comprises FFA, SAE, and Classroom Instruction. We believe this model represents the three core pieces of our organization and provides a variety of outlets for members to engage in what FFA has to offer.

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Our State Officer Team is looking forward to classroom visits with the various chapters throughout the state of Florida.

We use these visits to interact with the students through workshops with the intention of developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success.

Students can use these areas to become active leaders in their community and chapters. A passion for agriculture that can be sparked within these meetings is what makes them so worthwhile. We cannot wait to embrace them and work with our students.

Furthermore, we are anticipating the first conference of the year for chapter Presidents and Vice Presidents from the whole state, the Chapter Presidents Conference (CPC). At CPC we will begin a journey of growth and service with students to prepare them for a successful year with their FFA chapters. We hope that students will leave with a new perspective on how to deal with numerous situations that they will encounter as chapter officers. This will allow for our organization and chapters to function efficiently and move towards a better tomorrow.

As members of FFA, we have to remember two things: who we are serving and to stay true to our passions in life. For those who find a passion, know that it is not always an easy journey towards growing that passion. We face many trials and tribulations to reach a moment of clarity in which we know who we want to be. When you reach this discovery, maintain your focus on your goals and values and use your newfound clarity to better serve those around you. Whether you’re a chapter officer or an aspiring state officer, always keep those around you in mind. Many people may look up to you or watch you from the side. Even the smallest interactions can shape one person’s life. With that, I’ll ask you this. Are you willing to be that change?

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John Deere Technician Program

Go to school and get PAID while doing it!

The John Deere Tech Program requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Get the full college experience going to South Georgia Technical College and coming home to work and make money. Over the two-year program, you attend college for 8-weeks and then come home and work at the dealership for 8-weeks. Truly the best of both worlds!

Check out the program highlights: • AA Degree • John Deere certified technician • Great pay each time you come home for 8-weeks • Guaranteed Job after graduation at $50,000 per year or more!

• $1,000 scholarship guaranteed Do you know a high school Junior or Senior who may be interested? Contact us for more information or check out our YouTube channel to learn more at: https://www.youtube.com/user/EvergladesTV

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• Strawberries are the only fruit that wear their seeds on the outside.

• Strawberries are members of the rose family.

• Native Americans ate strawberries long before European settlers arrived.

• Current research suggests that eating just 8 strawberries a day can improve heart health, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, reduce the risk of cancers and even improve cognitive function.

• Research suggests that people who load up on strawberries before exercising have greater endurance and burn more calories.

• Strawberries score in the fruit group with the highest antioxidant values, which can help to prevent cataracts and other eye degeneration.

• Ancient Romans used strawberries as medicine, believing they could cure fever, bad breath, gout, sore throats, depression, fainting and diseases of the blood.

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Growing Old

I have finally accepted the fact that I am getting old. I take the stairs one step at a time. I get the same sensation from a rocking chair on the front of Fred’s market in Plant City that I once got from the roller coaster at Disney World. It’s also apparent that I’m aging when I fall down I wonder what else I can do while I am down. Now I choose my cereal for the fiber, and not the toy. And as for eating health food, forget it, I need all the preservatives I can get.

oil is made from vegetables, then what is baby oil made from? Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible black crisp, which no one will eat? Why is it that when someone tells you that there are over a billion stars in the universe, you believe them, but if they tell you there is wet paint on the chair you have to touch it to make sure? I have often wondered why Goofy stands erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They are both dogs!

As a child I would help my mother hang the freshly washed clothes on the clothesline. I am sure many of you reading this that have never heard of a clothesline. This was before the washer and dryer was invented. It was simply a heavy wire strung between two poles about 30 feet apart.

My next-door neighbor, Mark Poppell, who loves to bar-b-que, said he can not understand why it is that one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box of matches and a bottle of lighter fluid to start a grill!

Wash day was always on Monday. My mother had certain ways of hanging her clothes up to dry. First, she would wash the clothesline before hanging any clothes. She did this by walking the entire length of the line with a damp cloth around the lines.

She would hang the clothes in a certain order, and always hang “whites” with “whites,” and hang them first. The socks were always hung by the toes…not the top. All pants were hung by the bottom cuffs, not the waistbands. She would always hang the sheets and towels on the outside line so she could hide our “unmentionables” in the middle.

One Tuesday morning I woke up to find my mother crying and really beside herself. During the night someone had stolen all of her sheets and towels off the clothesline. She said it was her fault for not taking the clothes down before dark. Dad took it in stride, and said, “Don’t worry about it Nita, get dressed and we’ll go to Rogers and Middlebrooks and buy some new ones.”

They tell me if you yelled for 8 years 6 months and 4 days you would produce enough energy to heat one cup of coffee. But, if you farted consistently for 7 years and 8 months, you would produce enough gas to create the energy of an atomic bomb. I know a couple of people in Plant City that are getting close to that level. Now might be a good time to move to the mountains.

I have some questions for you to ponder! Most packages say “Open Here.” What happens if you open it somewhere else? Why is it that when you transport something by car, it’s called a shipment, but when you transport something by ship, its called cargo? If it’s called a TV set why do you get only one? Why is it called a “building” when it is already built? Why do they call them interstate highways in Hawaii? Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

It wasn’t long ago the only hazardous material we knew about was a patch of sandspurs in right field on the baseball field. During those early years people generally lived in the same hometown with their relatives. So “child care” meant grandparents or aunts and uncles! It was the time when your grandma grew blackeyed peas in the back yard, and had a chicken yard behind the garage.

Did you ever think that maybe Presidential Candidate Donald Trump is on to something? A typical American starts the day early having set his alarm clock (made in Japan) for 6 A.M. While his coffeepot (made in China) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (made in Hong Kong). He put on his dress shirt (made in Sri Lanka), designer jeans (made in Singapore) and tennis shoes (made in Korea).

After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (made in India) he sat down with his calculator (made in Mexico) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (made in Taiwan) to the radio (made in Japan) he got in his car (made in Germany) and continued his search for a good paying American job. At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day, he decided to relax for while.

He put on his sandals (made in Brazil) poured himself a glass of wine (made in France) and turned on his TV (made in Indonesia) and then wondered why he can’t find a good paying job in America.

Some things I still wonder about. For instances if you drive your car into a 50mph wind at 50mph, and stick your head out the window will you feel the wind? If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable

Speaking of Presidents, did you know that President Thomas Jefferson invented the coat hanger, the hideaway bed, the calendar clock and the dumbwaiter. I guess Jefferson had more to do than play golf!

I have been trying to remember what life was like before dishwashers, TV and airplanes. Can you remember when all the makeup women had had to wear was powder?

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Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the August 2016 issue

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Sign up

for a FREE On-Farm Readiness Review The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) inspections have begun. Sign up now to request a free On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR), offered in partnership by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and University of Florida IFAS. The OFRR is an educational opportunity to help individual farms align practices with the PSR regulatory requirements in preparation for inspections.

For more information on FSMA and to sign up for an OFRR, visit FDACS.gov/FSMA or call (863) 578-1900.

To take full advantage of the OFRR and for PSR compliance, one farm representative should first attend a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training.

Upcoming trainings can be found at: crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/events

This publication is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award U2FFD007446 totaling $1,179,719 with 100 percent funded by FDA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by FDA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Welcome Back As summer vacation draws to a close, Mosaic welcomes students, faculty and staff back for another successful school year. We also salute the parents, community members and other businesses supporting education across the region.

Every Fall, Mosaic employees look forward to partnering with schools on academic and extracurricular initiatives from 4H & FFA to furthering innovative STEM learning.

Let’s work together to cultivate the most valuable crop of all a bright future.

We help the world grow the food it needs.

www.mosaicfloridaphosphate.com

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FLORIDA FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT

JOHN HOBLICK

ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Florida Farm Bureau President John L. Hoblick has announced his retirement at the end of his term which concludes at the Florida Farm Bureau annual meeting October 1.

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“I am so appreciative of everyone who has supported my wife Kara and me over the last 15 years in my role as president,” he said.

“After 25 years of service to the state’s largest and most influential general agricultural organization, it is time for me to return to the farm and spend time with the family who stood by me as I

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pursued my passion for agriculture in serving Florida farm families as the Voice of Agriculture.

“Florida Farm Bureau is in a good place. It is never easy to leave something you love, but the timing is right for Kara and me to start a new chapter in our lives together that allows us to spend more time with family, especially our grandchildren and friends.

“It has been an honor to serve Florida’s farmers and ranchers.

They are truly the salt of the earth,” said Hoblick.

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FLorida PLUOTS

By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Bite into a fresh Florida pluot, and you get juicy, sweet, and tart all at once. Pluots are a unique hybrid fruit, a combination of a plum and an apricot. Pluots contain more plum than apricot. Other names for this hybrid include plumcots, apriums, and apriplums. They are classified as stone-fruit, along with nectarines, apricots, cherries, and peaches, because their fleshy part surrounds a shell with a seed inside. There are over 20 different types of pluots, varying in flavor, size, and color. The United States, France, and Chile are the world’s top producers of plums and pluots. Florida’s pluots are in peak season during the summer months and generally available spring until fall.

and absorption of iron is necessary to prevent anemia. Vitamin C also supports the body’s immune system in its ability to fight infections and viruses. Additionally, this vitamin is involved in keeping capillaries, gums, and skin healthy and supple.

Fiber: For regularity and good health

Pluots have a pretty, mottled exterior that combines red and yellow colors, resembling a speckled plum. The skin is thin and edible and clings tightly against the flesh. The flesh is yellow to amber in color, firm, and typically very sweet with low acid levels. In the center, is a small, hard, inedible pit.

Research has shown that dietary fiber has a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases by lowering blood cholesterol levels and slowing the progression of heart disease in high-risk individuals. Fiber also promotes bowel regularity and increases satiety levels, which can aid in weight control.

In addition to the effects of fiber on regularity, other compounds in pluots make this fruit especially effective in promoting healthy digestive functioning. Eating pluots can be an effective treatment for constipation without the side effects or risks of medication.

Nutritional Profile

How to select and store

Pluots are high in vitamins A and C, potassium, calcium, phosphate and dietary fiber. These nutrients are important for a strong immune system, a healthy digestive system, lowering cholesterol levels, and prevent the negative effects of free radicals. The darker pigmented varieties also provide a rich source of antioxidants. The outer peel is entirely edible and contains most of the fiber in the fruit. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, two fresh whole pluots (5 oz) contain 80 calories, 1 g of protein, 0.41 g of fat, 19 g of carbohydrate, and 3 g of fiber. It also provides 10% of the Daily Recommended Value (% DV) for Vitamin C, 4.3% for Vitamin A, and 6% for potassium.

Antioxidants: Fight off disease Pluots and other stone fruit are very high in disease-fighting antioxidants, which work to neutralize destructive free radicals in the body. When healthy cells are damaged, they are more susceptible to disease and certain types of cancer, and antioxidants may help slow the progression of conditions like asthma, arthritis, and colon cancer. Diets that contain fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C are linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

Vitamin C also has other important functions in the body. Eating pluots or other foods high in vitamin C can significantly raise the amount of iron your body absorbs. Adequate intake

How to enjoy Pluots, like other stone fruit, are delicious enjoyed fresh outof-hand at their peak of ripeness. They can also be baked, roasted, sauteed, pureed or made into jams, compotes, ice creams and syrup. The flavor is delicious when combined with vanilla or chocolate, lemon, and other fruit flavors. Pluots are also delicious in savory applications when cooked with pork, lamb, grilled shellfish and chicken.

They can be chopped and added to cereal, oatmeal, salad, or even ice cream. Stewed pluots add a natural sweetness to oatmeal or yogurt. Poached pluots make a light dessert.

Enjoy this beautiful, fragrant fruit during Florida’s peak season, knowing you will get loads of nutrition with every sweet, juicy bite.

Selected References http://www.uga.edu http://www.whfoods.com http://aic.ucdavis.edu/profiles/ INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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For optimal taste, choose a ripe pluot that yields slightly to gentle pressure and has a fragrant smell. Look for a richly colored skin that is free of cuts and blemishes. You can also pick firm fruits, since pluots continue to ripen at room temperature even after picking. The ripening process can be accelerated by placing the fruit in a paper bag overnight. Once ripe, refrigerate for up to one week. Rinse under cool running water before eating or preparing. Pluots can also be peeled, pitted, and frozen for later use.

HELPING CITRUS GROWERS THROUGH REGENERATIVE FARMING PRACTICES The Latest Step in the Century’s Old, Multi-Faceted Turner Family Industry Legacy

By Jim Frankow The Turner family name is well known in the citrus industry and community. Its legacy includes growing, harvesting, packing and shipping citrus in eastern Hillsborough County for more than a century. Family members George A. Carey, Hammond E. Turner and George H. Turner are important parts of that legacy, which is now being enhanced through the efforts of Brad Turner and his consultancy Sand to Soil Services.

Brad is a fourth generation Florida citrus grower with over 40 years of “hands in the dirt experience. I have worked as a commercial grower, production manager, caretaker and nursery grower in addition to managing cow-calf operations and hay cultivation,” he said. “Like most in the industry, I had focused on synthetic fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides and herbicides as the only management tools needed for citrus.”

He and his wife Maria are lifelong residents of Hillsborough County. They have two adult sons: Trey and Lane.

“On February 28, 2017, while standing in a citrus grove that was struggling to survive under the conventional citrus growing model, I looked at a neighboring native forest full of beautiful, healthy citrus trees. I had seen those trees in the oak hammocks my entire life but had never given them much thought until that day, and I began thinking about the soil.”

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That change in focus for Turner has included soil biology, chemistry and physics and how they relate to soil health, plant health and more specifically plant nutrition. “All of those sciences seemed complex for an old school citrus grower,” said Turner, “so my journey included attending numerous soil health and plant nutrition conferences throughout the United States to deepen my understanding of these complex topics.”

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He met with educators, consultants, researchers, managers and growers from across the country and around the world “who focus on soil and plant health. I also had the good fortune to tour farms in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, meeting with regenerative, no till farmers who are successfully implementing these concepts on their farms.”

In June of 2017 as Turner was preparing to put into action the knowledge he had gathered to begin a cover crop/compost trial on seven acres of mature, struggling citrus, he had the good fortune to meet Ed James, a Howey-in-the-Hills citrus grower who had already implemented and proven successful a cover crop/compost trial. “Based on what I saw in Ed’s grove, coupled with the information I had gathered, I was ready to take a leap of faith and prove that regenerative farming principles could not only be implemented in the citrus industry, but could address many of the industry’s challenges,” he said.

That led to the purchase of a five-acre parcel of land and the planting of over 50 varieties of young citrus trees on an assortment of rootstocks. “This began my self-funded research on how regenerative farming practices could be implemented into commercial citrus production,” said Turner. Sand to Soil Services is the consultancy Turner has created to advance his action plan. The company takes a holistic approach to create an ecological and soil system conducive for growing healthy trees that produce nutrient dense crops,” he said. “This approach considers soil minerals, soil and foliar biology, carbon, cover crops and plant nutritional needs based on stages of growth as the core concepts to rebuild resilient soils to support health trees and nutritious fruit” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Turner counts several commercial growers among the clients served by Soil to Sand Services. Most recently, Turner was named a 2021 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award recipient by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Each of this year’s three recipients share a commitment to protecting and preserving Florida’s resources while producing commodities that keep “our food supply and economy strong.”

Turner was recognized “for his commitment to promoting soil and tree health through the implementation of regenerative management practices, reducing the need for fertilizer and insecticides and increasing water retention.”

that consumers may purchase and use to help guide fruit and vegetable selection while grocery shopping.

Another is a livestock management system that provides finger-tip control of pasture assets, rotation and livestock movement. “Basically, that’s a livestock collar for cattle that controls their activity within a pasture ensuring high stock density rotation, and it’s all done on your cell phone,” he said.

More information is available by visiting: SandtoSoilServices. com.

THE

He has some thoughts developed over the last few years: • We are treating symptoms and not getting to root causes.

• We can get back to the way we grew citrus over a century ago and improve on it with the science, knowledge and technology we have today!

• If we transition to a more natural growing system and work with nature instead of against her, the citrus industry can once again flourish.

• We need to strive to replicate the health and vigor of those citrus cultivars growing in our native forests. These soils contain a complex, diverse, fungal network.

• The soil holds the answer to most of what is needed to grow healthy citrus trees and high quality, nutrient dense fruit!

Turner will continue to hone this process going forward through a collaborative effort with participating growers, as well as interested community groups, educators and others. He also monitors marketplace developments that relate, such as the anticipated availability of a nutrient density meter

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JACOB SHIRAH GATOR HUNTER

By Melissa Nichols

Most 10-year-old boys dream about being cops or firemen, some dream about being professional sports players but Jacob Shirah dreamed about hunting gators for just about as long as he can remember. In fourth grade Billy Harter came for show and tell for Mrs. Miller’s science class at Griffen Elementary by the invitation of Jacob Shirah. Billy told the class about alligators; from what they eat to how fast they grow and every detail in between. Jacob’s dad, Ricky Shirah, was friends with Billy, so he arranged for him to stop by the school with an alligator in his trailer for the students to see. Not only was this the talk of the school, but for some of the young men it was their dream to one day catch a gator themselves. This day changed some of these young men and helped them set a goal for themselves, for Jacob Shirah he knew some day he wanted to be “just like Billy.”

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Fast forward eight years or so after Jacob graduated high school, he fondly remembers waiting in line to have his name entered to hopefully get gator tags. The tags were issued on a first come first served basis with only so many issued to each area. Even if the hunter knew of a large gator in a specific lake, he may not be able to get the one he hoped to get if that is not the area he was selected for. Sometimes he got lucky and got areas he wanted, sometimes he did not, but regard-

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less, Jacob was always just happy to do what he loved to do, which was to catch a big ol’ gator. After several years of recreational gator hunting, a friend who happened to be training to become a contracted nuisance gator trapper, called Jacob and asked him if he could ride along and assist him on a few nuisance gator calls.

This call opened a door for Jacob.

The nuisance gator program is a division of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This program is called (SNAP) Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program. Their website states that “the goal of SNAP is to proactively address alligator threats in developed areas while conserving them in areas where they naturally occur.” In general, the alligators are considered a nuisance if over 4 feet and/or are aggressive and a threat to people, pets, or property. SNAP uses contracted Nuisance Alligator Trappers throughout the state to remove nuisance gators.

After a few years of training, Jacob officially became a nuisance alligator trapper in 2020 and is excited to be able to help others who may be having an issue with a nuisance gator and, also doing something he enjoys.

He said the thrill of it is never knowing if you’re going to get a call on a small 4-foot gator or a 10 foot or larger massive one. “Alligators are unpredictable, and someWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

can Teach In, Show and Tell or similar youth activities, know that you may influence someone way more than you realize. Their main goal in life may be to “be like you” which could be the biggest compliment you’ll ever receive.

times they end up under a car in a parking lot at 1 a.m. or at someone’s back door,” said Jacob.

Jacob is truly living his dream. He said sometimes he goes days without getting a call assigned to him for a nuisance gator and sometimes he has calls a few days a week. Regardless of the frequency, he feels blessed to have become a state contracted trapper and be “Like Billy Harter.”

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has helpful information about what to do and not do when it comes to alligators. First and foremost, never feed alligators. It is dangerous and illegal. When fed, they can lose their natural wariness of people and learn to associate people with food. Be aware of the possibility of alligators when around fresh or brackish water. Do not swim outside posted swimming areas or areas that are inhabited by alligators. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn. Dogs and cats are similar in size to the natural prey of alligators. Do not allow them to swim or drink from water that is inhabited with alligators. Most of all, leave alligators alone, don’t provoke them or harass them. State law prohibits an individual from killing, handling or harassing an alligator.

Jacob Shirah is a prime example of looking up to someone and doing what it takes to become exactly what you want to be in life. Those who laughed at the little elementary kid who constantly talked about trapping gators, now know he didn’t give up on his dream, no matter how far-fetched it seemed at the time. So, when you are asked to participate in the Great AmeriINTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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The Importance of Planning in the Garden

Anne Yasalonis UF/IFAS Extension Polk County As we move towards the fall and cool season gardening, consider the importance of garden planning. Landscape planning and design is well known, but do you plan your edible gardens? From vegetables to herbs to fruit trees, planning for space and future crop rotation is helpful.

When planning for your vegetable garden, first, select a site that gets full sun for most of the day. This means six or more hours. It should be easy to access and close to a water source.

This may be a place in your yard, but also might be a spot on a patio, where containers could be placed.

After you have selected a site, you can create a plan. This might mean designing a layout for raised beds, or a combination of in-ground and containers—it’s up to you! Plan out spacing for the types of vegetables you want to grow. Growing pumpkins? Plan for vines that can grow up to 25 feet!

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Create a seasonal growing plan that will indicate what crop is planted where. This will be helpful as you plan for crop rotation. What is crop rotation? Crop rotation is when plants in the same family are not planted in the same place season after season. The reason that crop rotation is important is to reduce garden pests. Planning and recording this in a journal or notebook is helpful and important.

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Finally, it is important to plan how you will water your garden.

If you are going to hand water, make it easy by locating the garden near a water source. If you plan to install irrigation, consider microirrigation. It is simple to install, there are many options available, and when installed properly can reduce water use and disease in the garden.

If you are looking for something to help you in your garden planning process, consider our Your Polk Yard, 12-Month Garden Guide and Journal. Compiled by Master Gardener Volunteers, the 85-page guide provides a one-stop resource for all things related to gardening in central Florida. Purchase the journal from UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, The Nectary Nursery, and the Polk Museum of Art. All proceeds benefit gardening and landscaping programming in Polk County.

For more information, visit our blog: http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/ polkco/2020/09/02/garden-guide-and-journal-availablefor-sale/.

Remember, our growing conditions in central Florida are different than other locations and UF/IFAS Extension Polk County and the Polk County Master Gardener Volunteers can help guide you and answer questions you have about landscape maintenance.

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For more information, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at (863) 519-1041 or visit us online at http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/ polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm to answer your gardening and landscaping questions.

Give us a call or email us at polkmg@ifas.ufl.edu.

The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program is a volunteer-driven program that benefits UF/IFAS Extension and the citizens of Florida. The program extends the vision of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, all the while protecting and sustaining natural resources and environmental systems, enhancing the development of human resources, and improving the quality of human life through the development of knowledge in agricultural, human and natural resources and making that knowledge accessible.

An Equal Opportunity Institution.

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By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff

THE TRAGIC REALITY OF CHILDREN WHO DROWN

Summer is here, and for some families, it’s the best time of year. However, in the last four weeks here in Polk County, there are seven families who are suffering and grieving due to children drowning or near-drowning in swimming pools.

From June 12th in Dundee to July 17th in Lake Wales, our deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue personnel have responded to seven different areas of the county and transported seven small children to local hospitals. The children ranged in age from two years old to 10 years old. Some of these children were visiting friends and family from other states. Tragically, four of the children did not survive.

Of course we think the loss of a child is the worst thing anyone could ever deal with, which is why we want to send out these safety tips in hopes of not having one more family suffer a tragedy like this.

One thing each of these situations had in common was that the seven children were being watched throughout the day or night – these tragedies did not occur through any sort of egregious neglect. Children are curious, and love to play in the water; and some children are smart enough to open sliding glass doors undetected. Two of these children were in the water around other people, wearing life jackets, and managed to slip out of the life jackets undetected – they were found by others in the pool, struggling or floating face down.

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This leads us to rule number one when it comes to having children near water: you cannot ever, ever, ever take your

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eyes off the child. Not even for a minute. If a child tells you they are just going inside, go with him or her. If a child is napping in a home that has a pool, ensure there’s no possible way for the child to get to the pool. If there are sliding glass doors or fences leading to a pool area, LOCK the doors – with a childproof lock. And keep your pools clean enough to see down to the bottom.

Remember that drowning is silent. It is often depicted in television and movies as a violent thrashing, screaming, gasping event. On the contrary, most drowning victims simply go under the water, and are found floating, sometimes at the bottom of the pool.

Please, please learn CPR. It often means the difference between life and death, especially in near-drowning scenarios.

Of course the most common way to prevent child drownings is to have your children taught how to swim by a certified swim teacher. There are many resources out there, some of them free. If you have to pay, we believe it’s well worth the money, because you cannot put a price on the life of a precious child.

Please visit these websites to learn more about swimming lessons, and CPR: http://polk.floridahealth.gov/.../06/swimming-lessons.html https://www.redcross.org/tak.../cpr/cpr-training/cpr-classes WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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UF/IFAS RESEARCH RECEIVES $155.6 M IN LATEST FISCAL YEAR

By Kirsten Romaguera

The University of Florida boasted its second-best research funding awards over the fiscal year 2021, with UF/IFAS researchers receiving $155.6 million of the $861 million university total.

The UF/IFAS funding, a 10% increase over last year’s total, came from both federal and state sources and represents a wide variety of agricultural and natural resources projects statewide. Like the overall university’s total, this number does not include funding received through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. “This funding increase is indicative of our forward motion coming out of this pandemic year,” said Robert Gilbert, dean of UF/IFAS Research and director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station. “UF/IFAS faculty really put a lot of effort into writing for both peer-reviewed publications and for grants. The continued success of these research programs is the result of that tremendous effort.”

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Among the top UF/IFAS awards during fiscal year 2021: • A multi-million grant seeks improvement in the safety of fresh produce. The four-year, multi-university collaboration is led by Michelle Danyluk, with the UF/IFAS food science and human nutrition department and is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

• At the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems, a multi-million grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will continue its scientific

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research related to production and consumption of animalsource food in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Niger, Rwanda and Nepal for another five years. Adegbola Adesogan, professor of animal sciences and director of the Lab, said the work, which began in 2015, “has already improved livestock productivity, reduced disease prevalence, empowered women, improved food safety, increased incomes, and improved the nutrition of mothers and infants in our focal countries.”

• In horticultural sciences, Ali Sarkhosh is leading a team to investigate the use of essential oils in organic crop growth to control pests and diseases. USDA-NIFA awarded the fouryear project nearly $2 million.

• In agricultural and biological engineering, Ziwen Yu has a $1.6 million award from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to investigate how to enhance irrigation management in vegetable farms in the southeastern United States by developing root zone soil moisture maps.

The largest share of UF/IFAS awarded dollars went to the Citrus Research and Education Center, where scientists are on the forefront of developing protections for the state’s signature crop against the devastating citrus greening disease, although 27 areas topped $1 million apiece.

“Our innovative researchers are always looking for those solutions to better the everyday lives of Floridians,” said Scott Angle, UF vice president for agriculture and natural resources and the leader of UF/IFAS. “I look forward to seeing where this next round of research will lead, both scientifically and in benefitting the people we serve.”

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NEWS BRIEFS

Compiled by Jim Frankowiak

EXPANDED RIGHT TO FARM LAW NOW IN EFFECT

The expanded Florida “Right to Farm” law is now in effect. It helps shield farmers from what are known as nuisance lawsuits, by prohibiting such lawsuits from being filed by those who do not own property within one-mile of the alleged violations. It also limits damages that could be awarded to the market value of any property damaged. Additionally, the expanded law includes issues related to agritourism and “particle emissions.” It also requires those who file lawsuits to show by “clear and convincing evidence” that farms did not comply with state and federal environmental laws.

AG HALL OF FAME NOMINATION DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 1 The Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for individuals who have helped advance agriculture and insure it continues to strive in Florida. Anyone can nominate an agriculture veteran for consideration to be inducted into the Florida Ag Hall of Fame. The deadline is September 1.

Access the nomination form at: https://floridaaghalloffame. org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2018-Florida-Ag-Hallof-Fame-nomination-form.pdf

FRIENDS OF THE FAIR SPORTING CLAYS TOURNAMENT SET FOR OCTOBER 15

COVID-19 Resources on Florida Farm Bureau Website Florida Farm Bureau has developed a COVID-19 resources website page that includes a variety of agricultural and state and federal links related to the pandemic. The site is continually updated and can be accessed at: floridafarmbureau.org/ covid-19-resources/.

FORD MAVERICK INCLUDED IN FARM BUREAU ADVANATAGE PROGRAM

Farm Bureau members are eligible for $500 Bonus Cash on the purchase or lease of an eligible new 2020/2021/2022 Ford Maverick, Ranger, F-150 or Super Duty. Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. Must be a Farm Bureau member for 30 consecutive days prior to purchase or lease and take new retail delivery from an authorized Ford dealer stock by January 3, 2022. Visit: FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com or your Ford dealer for more details.

AG LABOR RELATIONS FORUM SEPTEMBER 1-3

Registration is now open for the 47th Annual Agricultural Labor Relations Forum in Orlando September 1-3. Florida Farm Bureau is a sponsor of this event that offers the most current information on labor law and best practices, whether a small or large grower, H2A or non-H2A employer. More information is available at Labor Forum – Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (ffva.com).

Mark your calendars for Friday, October 15. That’s the date for the Second Annual Friends of the Fair Sporting Clays Tournament, benefiting the Florida State Fair Foundation, a 501 (C) (3) directly supporting deserving students and agricultural programming. The event will be held at Fishhawk Sporting Clays. For more information, contact Patty Chandler – Phone: 813/627-4227 or Email: Patty.Chandler@FloridaStateFair.com.

ANNUAL EQUINE EVENT IN-PERSON THIS FALL Florida horse owners are invited to learn the latest sciencebased information on horse and pasture care at the Florida Equine Institute and Allied Trade Show September 29 at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 Northeast Jacksonville Road, Ocala FL 33470. The full-day, in-person event with educational seminars, live animal demonstrations and a trade show begins at 8:30 a.m. For more information, contact Caitlin Bainum via email: cbainum@ufl.edu.

FLORIDA AG EXPO THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18 The 2021 Florida Ag Expo will take place Thursday, November 18, at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center at Wimauma. More information, including registration, will soon be available on this one-day event for Florida’s Ag community. Vendors can visit – https://floridaagexpo.net/exhibit/ - for exhibit information.

Gator football fans are invited to join Florida Farm Bureau in “The Swamp” as the Gators open the season against Florida Atlantic University September 4 for Ag Day and finish the regular season November 27 against Florida State.

The inaugural Home Field AGvantage tailgate events are free to the public and will provide fans a complete agricultural experience highlighting different products grown around the Sunshine State. The events will also include live music, food samples, family fun and kid-friendly activities. Information on Ag Days is available at – https://thehomefieldagvantage. org/.

Tickets for both games can be purchased at the special Farm Bureau member price at: https://fevo.me/ffb2021. Tickets are limited.

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GATOR FOOTBALL TICKETS AVAILABLE – INAUGURAL AG DAYS

by John Dicks

Time to Travel!

Summertime, seems like it’s fading so fast! School’s starting, and football is kicking around already.

It would be nice to just slow things down a bit. Take a vacation. Travel somewhere.

I remember last spring when the signs of summer were looking so bright. The pandemic had peaked, or so it seemed, and everyone was itching to get going again.

So concerned I was about the projected crowds of summer that we planned a trip for that sweet spot prior to Memorial Day in order to get out and back before the throngs arrived.

We wanted to make it a special one, too, just to celebrate the joy of traveling again.

As our conversation began of places to go, a surprise slipped into my email inbox from Southwest Airlines with a special offer and an announcement that it was re-opening its service to Fresno, CA. It was one of those deals carrying a price tag that was just “too hard to say no to.”

Fresno, you might ask? Yep, I get it. Not really all that much to see and do in Fresno. True that is, until I remembered that the Fresno airport bills itself as the “Gateway to Yosemite.”

Yosemite National Park is arguably the “crown jewel” of our nation’s park system. Yes, Yellowstone is amazing, Glacier is awesome, and it’s always wonderful to be in the Smokies, but really, Yosemite is majestic like none other.

The staggering granite cliffs and the vistas that they bring, the roaring sounds of so many waterfalls, the fresh pine scents of ponderosa pines and resplendent redwoods all merge into a wondrous place that should sit high on top of people’s Bucket List for places to visit and explore.

I’m happy to admit that I just love Yosemite. Regardless of the memorable bear encounter I had while camping there in 1976 (yep, ’tis true), Yosemite is one of the places I’m delighted to go to time and time again. So, when Southwest made me its special offer, it took perhaps a nanosecond for me to sign up!

Granted, this time the hikes were not as adventurous or challenging as some have been before. Instead of hiking the multi-day backcountry Panorama trail like we did 10 years ago (with yet another bear encounter), this time was filled with waterfall day hikes and taking funny pictures like pointing to the peak of Half Dome, marking the spot that 20 years had passed since that day we slipped on the cables (just a bit) while scaling the icon.

It’s always special in Yosemite. Time there makes marvelous memories, all filled with special stories to tell.

The timing, too, for this trip seemed perfect, coming before the technical beginning of Summer, and thus with relatively few people in the park to compete with for space to enjoy things.

Just a few weeks later summer crowds had grown so large the Park Service was forced in many places to limit the number of visitors. At Arches National Park, the lone entrance gate was often shut down by 8 a.m.!

What a grand time it was for our adventure. Confident and comfortable after having been fully vaccinated, combined with perfect weather, few people clogging the trails, and that amazing offer from Southwest, made it a perfect, post pandemic trip.

All of that being said, if for whatever reason you’ve missed a vacation this year (and last) it appears that there may yet be another idyllic opportunity in the offering.

As summer is fading, along with Labor Day, the days left with long sunshine look enticing for a trip before the chills of Fall and Winter start dancing our way. Late September the crowds will return home, the weather is divine and, with any luck and the grace of providence, the pandemic, even the Delta variant, may finally be waning.

It’s a fine time to travel.

Be safe; but Go! Have fun! You deserve it!

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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. John serves as Of Counsel to Trinkle Redman, a law firm in Plant City where he also served nine years as City Commissioner, including three terms as Mayor.

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UF/IFAS PLANTS FLORA TO TRY TO REDUCE POLLUTANTS GOING INTO LAKES, RIVERS

By Brad Buck

photo shows a stormwater pond in Manatee County (Florida) where plants have been installed to help absorb nutrients.

Photo courtesy Michelle Atkinson, UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County

Now, in the middle of summer, when those afternoon or evening rains come, stormwater from lawns, driveways and roofs drains down to any of the 76,000 stormwater ponds scattered around Florida.

As stormwater flows into these ponds, it can bring excess nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen with it. The pollutants can come from such sources as excess fertilizer, yard and pet waste.

Left untreated, phosphorus and nitrogen can wind up in natural bodies of water, such as nearby lakes and rivers. While stormwater ponds are built primarily to control flooding from rainwater, they’re also designed to remove nutrients that run off urban landscapes.

Stormwater ponds don’t always meet this goal.

But University of Florida researchers are trying to change this.

Specifically, researchers with the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences want to use plants to absorb the nutrients in stormwater ponds.

They’re going to start their scientific quest this summer in Manatee County by installing plants in and around stormwater ponds – and, if they see success, they’ll take their project statewide.

“What we learn can be applied to existing and new stormwater ponds in Florida’s rapidly expanding residential landscapes,” said Basil Iannone, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of urban landscape ecology. “This is important because we need to find ways to limit the nutrients getting into Florida’s valuable water resources.”

Data is scant on how well plants control nutrients from escaping stormwater ponds.

Iannone, principal investigator on the project, said the team will compare planted versus unplanted ponds in the plants’ ability to remove nutrients during the project.

“We want to see if the plants improve stormwater pond quality,” Iannone said. “We also want to gauge people’s willingness to adopt the idea of plantings, and we want to identify the best ways to educate people about the benefits of installing plants in and around stormwater ponds.”

In a prior project in Lakewood Ranch, also in Manatee County, UF/IFAS researchers found 20% less phosphorus in areas of stormwater ponds with plants grown in the water.

As helpful as plants might be, many residents view them as unsightly, according to UF/IFAS research. So, not only do scientists need proof that the plants keep the nutrients from escaping the stormwater ponds, they need the public to buy into the aesthetics of the plants.

Paul Monaghan, a UF/IFAS associate professor of agricultural education and communication, will lead efforts to identify the best educational approaches to promote planting as a Best Management Practice. That includes speaking to, and getting feedback from, stakeholder groups, such as residents and business owners.

One meeting will be held in fall 2022, one in spring 2023 and one in fall 2023. Contact Monaghan at paulf@ufl.edu for more information on those workshops.

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That’s why UF/IFAS researchers are using a four-year, $197,000 EPA grant to find out more about how well plants control nitrogen and phosphorus. If the data show plants as beneficial, researchers hope to educate residents and businesses statewide to install plants as a Best Management Practice.

E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es

CUTE & CAPTIVATING: KEY DEER

By Ginny Mink

In this part of Florida, we definitely love our deer, but probably for very different reasons than what we will be talking about here. Hunting and Bambi references aside, deer can be captivating creatures, especially when you are camping in the Ozark Mountains and they are roaming freely between tents. Unfortunately, one part of Florida has been a source of great pain for a wee little dear (spelled this way on purpose) known as the Key Deer.

Believe it or not, the Key Deer has been part of controversy for over 80 years. It started when unregulated hunting of these cute creatures was wiping them out and has continued in court over land and roads. In the 1950s it’s believed that there may have only been 50 living Key Deer. Seven years later they were given a refuge and then in 1967 they received their Endangered Species label. By the 1970s there was about 400 of them thanks to this protective measure.¹ The Key Deer is a subspecies of the white tailed deer, but it’s the smallest of them all. These deer have had a historic range from Key Vaca to Key West and that is because they are capable of easily swimming between the islands of the Florida Keys. The island with the most fresh surface water is where they will be most frequently found. Before people showed up these deer had very little to worry about in the way of competitors or predators.²

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While they are the smallest of the white tailed deer, they are the only large herbivore located on the Keys. They spend their time eating all kinds of plants (100 different

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species) and though they don’t have predators (as mentioned previously) they do still have the same raised tail startle response as other deer. They will breed in the fall after the males have jousted one another for the females they desire. Their gorgeous little ones are born in the late spring and summer and are white spotted.³ Speaking of their bambi-esque babies (oops we weren’t going to do that), an April article published by the NC State University College of Natural Resources News (4/21/21) says that the rising sea levels are making Key deer fawns potentially more vulnerable to heat stress.

The babies are most abundant in the National Key Deer Refuge at its low-elevation locations. These are dense wetland areas that offer the fawns coverage. The study’s author, Julia Jacobs, says, “Key deer do not have natural predators…so we predict that the cover is more important for thermal regulation…”⁴ While many of us shrug at these kinds of things, studies suggest that sea level will rise by as much as two and a half feet by the time we reach 2060. That’s going to flood out the habitats that these fawns call home thereby exposing them to the Florida sun at far more intense rations. We have always thought it was urbanization that was going to end the existence of the Key deer, but now it seems it will be the rising sea levels in the near future.⁴ Key deer populations have certainly increased due to the establishment of the refuge. There are now an estimated 1000 Key deer in existence. Sadly, these deer have had to learn to adapt to the constant presence of humans in their territory. This is why you will note that they WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

are very calm around people if you ever happen to visit the Refuge. Visit No Name Key and Big Pine Key to see them in their native locales.⁵ Mark Robertson, in 1997, said, “The Key deer is the flagship for a whole fleet of species in the Keys…There are many endemic plant and animal species, and they’re all going to sink or swim together.” He was the head of the Nature Conservancy’s Key West office back then. But, even 20+ years ago he was able to see that sinking or swimming was exactly what was going to happen to the Key deer if we don’t do something.¹ Our goal isn’t to make you feel helpless in the loss of species in our beautiful state. Rather, we want to inspire you to see the beauty that the Creator handed to us and entrusted to our care. Then, we want you to try to help where and when you can, to make this place safe for all living things.

You can get more information about how to help the Key Deer by visiting the National Key Deer Refuge’s visi-

tor center at 179 Key Deer Blvd on Big Pine Key. Or you can do some research and help the organizations that seem most effective to you.

Resources: ¹Di Silvestro, Roger. (1997). What’s Killing the Key Deer?

National Wildlife Federation. https://www.nwf.org/ Magazines/National-Wildlife/1997/Whats-Killing-theKey-Deer ²Center for Biological Diversity. Key Deer. https://www. biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/esa_works/profile_ pages/KeyDeer.html ³US Fish & Wildlife Service. National Key Deer Refuge.

Key Deer Odocoileus virginianus clavium. https://www. fws.gov/refuge/National_Key_Deer_Refuge/wildlife_ and_habitat/key_deer.html ⁴Moore, Andrew. (2021). Endangered Key Deer Fawns Vulnerable to Heat Stress as Sea Level Rises, Study Finds. NC State University. College of Natural Resources News. https://cnr.ncsu.edu/news/2021/04/endangered-key-deer-fawns-vulnerable-to-heat-stress-assea-level-rises-study-finds/ ⁵MiamiScapes. The Florida Key Deer and the National Key Deer Refuge. https://www.miamiscapes.com/florida-key-deer.html Photo Credits: Valerie. (2019). Key Deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium). Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/2ehYj4m Thomas. (2016). Key Deer. Flickr. https://flic.kr/ p/2idJsvW

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Naturally A Closer Look Amazing Activities

by Sean Green

Simple Kaleidoscope When I was a young boy, I had a kaleidoscope and it fascinated me. The vivid colors and endless patterns that could be made kept my attention for hours. The design was formally described as early as the mid 1500s during the Scientific Renaissance of Europe (1450-1630) during which time some of the greatest thinkers the world has known sought to restore the natural knowledge of the ancients. Observation fueled disruptive new perceptions of the natural world and with it, new tools and inventions.

The kaleidoscope was one such tool. The design was perfected in 1814 by Sir David Brewster while he was experimenting to understand the physics of polarized light, the physics that are at work in nature for insects such as the golden tortoise beetle. This month we will create our own kaleidoscope out of materials you may already have around the house. With your kaleidoscope, you can observe the beautiful patterns and colors of reflected light as some if our greatest scientist had hundreds of years ago.

Materials: Toilet Paper Roll (x2) Card Stock Aluminum Tape Colored glass beads (or any small objects) Transparent plastic sheet Decorative paper Hot glue gun & glue stick Scissors or razor Square ruler.

• Decorate a toilet paper roll by gluing decorative paper to the outside of the roll.

• Cut a 2nd piece of transparent plastic to create a cap on the other end of the cell to enclose the beads. (I used the aluminum tape to secure the plastic caps)

• Cut card stock large enough to make a triangle that will fit inside your toilet paper roll. (I cut mine 3 ¾ x 4 ½ )

• Insert the cell into the decorated tube.

• Divide the long side (4 ½”) into 3 equal panels that measure (1 ½”) each

To use the kaleidoscope, point the bead cell at a light source, look through the other end like a telescope and rotate the bead cell to watch the pattern change.

• Score the card stock along the previously made divisions so it can easily be folded.

• Tape the inside of the triangle with shiny aluminum tape (as reflective as you can find) • Tape the triangle closed and insert it into the decorated toilet paper roll.

• From your 2nd toilet paper roll, cut a ¼” to ½” ring.

• Cut transparent plastic to create a cap on one end of the small ring.

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• Fill the cell with colorful object such as beads.

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ANaturally Closer Look Amazing

by Sean Green

Braconid wasps (Braconidae)

I have been watching a small nest of paper wasps (Polistinae fuscatus) develop right outside my front door. I am ok with wasps around the household and appreciate the work they do guarding my food plants from caterpillars. Wasps are amazingly effective predators and are close to the top of the invertebrate food chain. Paper wasps are among the few wasps that humans have learned to despise because they are aggressive nest defenders and can become problematic around the home or garden. As humans, our negative experiences, like getting stung, tend to carry more weight than positive ones. Consequently, many homeowners that do not want to be stung often take great measures to eliminate anything that resembles a stingy insect.

While we protect the adorable honeybee, which also aggressively defends its nest, we are less supportive of preserving the wasp. There are over 15,000 species of stinging wasps in the world and only 5% (less than 800 species) that are aggressive towards non prey targets. This month we will take a closer look at a family of tiny solitary wasps known as braconid wasps that are non-aggressive and can have a tremendous impact on reducing caterpillars in the garden Bracinidae are a family of parasitoid wasps and make up the second largest family of the Hymenoptera order which includes bees, wasps, ants, and sawflies. A parasitoid wasp is a wasp that lays its eggs on or in the bodies of host insects such as caterpillars, beetles, bees, and other arthropods. As a group, they are divided into roughly 50 subfamilies with an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 species, less than 2000 of which have already been identified. Parasitoid wasps are usually specialists that have coevolved with either a specific prey species, or a limited number of similar species. The relationship is not mutualistic, the prey species will always die from the interaction. Parasitiod wasps not only differ in their prey selection, but also in the life stage (egg, larvae, pupa, adults) in which they attack their species of choice as well as the method endoparasitic (internally) or externally (ectoparasitic) in which they parasitize.

When the endoparasitic strategy is used, the female wasp lands on a host species such as a caterpillar and uses its ovipositor (stinger) to insert eggs into the caterpillar. The wasp larvae hatch from the eggs and begin feeding on it from the inside living life as a parasite. Because the egg and the hatching larvae are inside the body of the host, there is a danger that the immune system of the host insect may try to fight off the wasp parasite as it would any other infection. Endoparasitic species have evolved to form a symbiotic relationship with certain insect viruses, specifically the bracovirus (BV) for braconid wasps. This virus evolved from the nudivirus about 190 million years ago and only infects insects and marine crustaceans. The bracovirus replicates in the ovarian cells of the female braconid wasp. The braconid wasp is only a carrier of the virus and does not suffer the ill effects of the virus itself. When the female wasp injects her eggs

With an immune repressing virus such as the bracovirus, the wasp egg survives, and larvae can hatch to feed on the caterpillars’ organs without the consequence. As the caterpillar is consumed from the inside out, it becomes a zombie, with only a few vital organs and functions left intact to keep it alive for the wasp larvae to feed. The caterpillar is no longer in control of its body or destiny and becomes a zombie in complete service of the wasp larvae remaining barely alive for the sole purpose of being a food source. Eventually the caterpillar will lose its motor skills and stop moving altogether. This is the end for the caterpillar and a new beginning for the wasp. The wasp larvae eventually burrow out of the caterpillar to pupate. As soon as the larvae emerge from the body of the caterpillar, they spin a silk cocoon around themself and begin metamorphosis. About four days later, the new wasp adults free themselves from the cocoon by cutting a hatch from the top to exit. The adult wasps’ mate, and the female wasp finds a host caterpillar to lay her eggs inside of and the cycle starts again.

When the ectoparasitic strategy is used, the eggs are laid outside the body of the host. Rather than inject an egg into the body the female wasp injects a cocktail of fluid that results not only in the total paralysis of the host but also cell death that effectively prevents certain cells from executing an immunity response. We see this often with wasps that prey on spiders, or other insects that have the potential to prey on the wasp itself. Once the host is paralyzed, the female will carry it to an egg chamber, stuff it inside and lay a single egg on the outside of the paralyzed host. The larvae hatch from the egg and burrow into the live, but paralyzed host and develop in much the same way as the endoparasitic wasp larvae with the same protection from immunity response just a different delivery.

If you get a chance to get out and hike this month, pay close attention to any caterpillars you see. The picture featured with this article is a Nasons Slug caterpillar (Natada nasoni), a stinging caterpillar that is the larvae of the Nasons Slug Moth. It is parasitized by a braconid wasp. The white barrels on the top of the caterpillars’ body are the cocoon the larvae have spun for pupation and have not yet hatched. I did not think to bring it home to watch the wasps hatch. This would be a great project for those so inclined, the wasps that hatch will be harmless, I would caution our readers to handle the caterpillar with gloves if there is any doubt about identification. Stinging caterpillars can sting even when in zombie form, or dead for that matter. Take a closer look, and have fun doing it.

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into the host caterpillar, the virus is injected along with her eggs and only then does the virus express itself to diminish the caterpillar’s immune system. The virus does not replicate within the host caterpillar, therefore, the infection can not pass from one caterpillar to another.

ON HER WAY TO NUMBER ONE

By Libby Hopkins

Madison Keller is 13-years-old and attends St. Anthony Catholic School in Polk, County. Ever since she was little, she wanted a horse she could ride. “Since I always wanted one, my dad finally gave in and got me one, so I could ride,” Madison said.

When she said, “ride,” she didn’t mean riding in a pasture, she meant barrel racing. “There’s just something about being on a horse and barrel racing that I really love,” Madison said.

She’s also very good. This past July she placed ninth in out of 800 riders at the World Finals National Barrel Horse association in Perry, Ga. “I never realized how competitive she was until she started riding,” her dad, Hubble Keller said. “She really loves it and she’s great at it too!”

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The National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA), headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the largest barrel racing organization in the world. In 1992, the NBHA revolutionized the barrel racing industry by pioneering the divisional format, which allows riders of all skill levels a

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chance to win money and prizes in barrel racing competition.

NBHA has thousands of members of all ages across the United States and affiliates in twelve countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

Divisional barrel racing gives all competitors, from beginners to professionals, from youth to seniors, a chance to compete, learn and succeed in barrel racing.

The Divisional format encourages riders to improve their skills and work toward the higher Divisions, while still having a chance to be competitive. “I practice two to three days a week,” Madison said. “I work on different barrel patterns with my trainer, and I practice the patterns with my horses.” Madison has four horses she uses for barrel racing competition.

The ultimate goal of NBHA competition is to qualify for the prestigious NBHA World Championships: The Youth and Teen World Championships, held the last week of July, and the Open and Senior World ChamWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

pionships are held in October annually. “Throughout the year, there are two NBHA qualifying events,” Madison said. “To make it to the world finals, you have to qualify by points throughout the year. It’s a little more challenging” The COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult for Madison to compete last year to get the points she needed to go to the world finals. “All the competitions were cancelled due to the pandemic,” Hubble said.

“Madison competed whenever she could once things started to open back up and she did great every time. If it wasn’t for the grassroots effort of the barrel racing community, that did everything to keep these competitions alive during the pandemic, Madison may have not had the chance to qualify for the world championship.”

Madison had a great time competing at the world finals this past July. “It was a lot of fun, and I can’t wait until next year,” Madison said. “I want to be able to qualify my horses again next year.”

Madison’s parents are beyond proud of their daughter and her accomplishments in barrel racing. “It was unbelievable,” Hubble said. “She has only been doing this a couple of years, but for her to qualify a horse was a great accomplishment, but for her to place in the finals was a really big deal.

There were about 800 riders in her category and then they narrowed it down to 200 riders and then she made the finals, it’s an amazing thing.”

If you would like to learn more about The National Barrel Horse Association, you can visit their website at www.nbha.com.

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UF/IFAS ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF TWO-YEAR INDUSTRIAL

HEMP PILOT PROJECT

By Tory Moore

UF/IFAS wrapped up the two-year Industrial Hemp Pilot Project with guidance that hemp may be a viable commodity for Florida growers in the future, with caution for economic and environmental challenges.

The pilot project at UF/IFAS began in the spring of 2019 after federal and state legislation established an industrial hemp pilot program with research and education priorities that support hemp cultivation.

The project’s three primary goals were to assess hemp variety suitability for Florida, develop hemp management strategies for Florida, and evaluate the invasion risk of hemp in Florida. This included data from trials around the state with hemp grown at UF/IFAS research sites and private farms.

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“From our research, including the on-farm trials with growers around the state, we have found that hemp can grow in Florida but there is more work to be done on

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the way to a viable crop,” said Zachary Brym, UF/IFAS agronomy assistant professor and hemp pilot project lead scientist. “There are a variety of environmental and management factors that influence hemp productivity that we need to spend more time understanding. We’ll keep up that work as long as there is support to do so.”

Key observations from the pilot project include: • Variety trials across the state show some promising aspects of hemp genetics for grain and flower production in Florida. Key factors impacting genetics that will also determine the success of the crop include planting date, fertility management, and effective pest control.

• Many varieties exceeded the 0.3% total THC threshold allowable, a concern for Florida growers due to federal and state requirements for crops that exceed the THC limit.

• Invasiveness does appear to be a potential concern; caution is recommended for growers.

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Hemp research and education efforts continue beyond the end of the two-year pilot program. This includes the online hemp research workshop and the newly established cultivar approval program that provides science-based evaluation of industrial hemp varieties. The approval program is led by Brian Pearson, assistant professor of crop management at the UF/ IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in partnership with Roseville Farms.

The entire two-year report is available now. For more information, visit the UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Program website. (https://programs.ifas.ufl. edu/hemp/)

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“We worked alongside many industry partners with the common goal of increasing hemp knowledge for growers across Florida,” said Brym. “We are excited to share the findings from that work and we are thankful for their support and collaboration over the past two years and into the future.”

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Polk County Cattle Women

T

he calendar says it’s still summer, but since the kids have now gone back to school, I think it’s safe to say summertime as we know it is just about over. Now we keep our eyes on the Tropics and pray for a mild Hurricane Season.

PCCW has taken a little break over the summer, but we’re looking forward to meeting again beginning next month. Some upcoming events that may be of interest to you are the Florida CattleWomen’s 2021 Beef Short Course on August 28 in Inverness, and the Florida Cattlemen’s Association/ Florida CattleWomen’s Association Fall Quarterly on September 9 & 10 in Gainesville.

After taking the summer off from meetings, we’re ready to get back at it. As you’re making your monthly calendar filled with appointments and practices for the kids, be sure and add PCCW meetings! We meet the first Tuesday of the month.

Our next meeting is September 7, which falls on the day after Labor Day. Come on down to the Bartow Ag Complex and see what we’re all about and hang out with some ladies who share your passion for the beef cattle industry. Masks and social distancing are encouraged. Be sure and check us out on Facebook and Instagram for more updates!

If you’d like information about meetings, membership, or upcoming events don’t hesitate to reach out to me at BuckLD96@gmail.com.

Till next month, Leslie Buchanon Polk County CattleWomen’s Association President

Leslie Buchanon

Polk County Cattlewomen President

New kids’ books from UF entomologist encourage budding bug enthusiasts

By Kirsten Romaguera From the soil dwellers to the winged flyers, to the leaf nibblers between, the bug visitors to our yards are often an exciting observation for children.

“It’s a little safari in your backyard,” said Jaret Daniels, a University of Florida entomologist who just released a pair of books to foster kids’ fascination with the tiny critters. “You don’t need to go to Yellowstone to find insects. You can go right outside your back door.”

The books, “Insects & Bugs for Kids” and “Insects & Bugs Backyard Workbook,” are a companion set. Daniels likens the first to a children’s introductory entomology guide – detailing insect orders, body parts and development stages, to name a few components – and the latter supports the guide with activities for young explorers and their families.

The featured insects are broadly common across the United States and Southern Canada, he added.

Daniels, a UF/IFAS professor of entomology and curator for lepidoptera at the Florida Museum of Natural History at UF, noted the books come after a year of pandemic trends drawing more people outdoors.

“We’ve had this last year of being sequestered in our homes, and a lot of people have reconnected to that natural world,” he said, before suggesting: “It’s a great opportunity to plant a landscape to attract wildlife to go out and explore with your kids.

Daniels said it’s important to engage people of all ages to recognize the critical role insects play in the larger ecosystem, which is among the broader outreach goals of his lab.

“We’re losing biodiversity at a rapid rate,” he explained. “We all can make a difference in making sure our landscapes are helping to conserve or provide resources for these amazing organisms.”

For Daniels, this interest started at a young age and continued to grow. He recalled being 6 years old, observing the creatures in his family’s Wisconsin backyard.

“I got interested in entomology at a very critical age,” Daniels said. “If you ask entomologists, biologists, people who work in the museum – they all can recall a story around that same age when they had a critical person in their life or a critical experience that got them interested in the subject they now study.”

His new books, he hopes, could open such a door for young readers.

“If this can inspire kids to explore the natural world and maybe later find a career in biology or entomology, that’s great,” Daniels said. “But even just gaining a broader appreciation for the natural world – that’s the goal.”

The books can be purchased from a number of retailers, including the UF/IFAS Extension Bookstore on the Gainesville campus, 1374 Sabal Palm Drive.

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