WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
1
INVENTORY BLOWOUT WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
Grow7 offers a complete line of liquid foliar plant nutrition for all types of crops. Grow yields while you improve quality!
EVERGREEN
Unique Systemic Balanced Nutritional Complex
BEMIX
Insecticide-Acaricide Organic Spray Activator
MAGNET-B
Promotes Plant Flower Set & Root Growth
Systemic Calc. Phosphonate & Boron
CYCLOPS
Organic Fungicide OMRI Approved
Size
Reg $
Sale $
Size
Reg $
Sale $
Size
Reg $
Sale $
Size
Reg $
Sale $
15gal
888.51
1916.25
107.43
42.87
2.5gal
322.30
161.15
2.5gal
333.04
gal
131.81
gal
65.14
gal
136.71
qt
33.91
127.70 53.05 6.55
qt
34.51
367.22 62.76 26.67 17.26
2.5gal
2.5gal
369.21 70.73 28.59
15gal
The CISCO Companies
To place orders, call Kathy 800-888-2986 ext. 310 or email at kathylawrence@ciscoseeds.com. 2
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
I T for F Mdetails. S 2016 Other products in the Grow7 line available. Call eptember
WWW. N HE IELD
AGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
3
VOL. 10 • ISSUE 1
Ron O’Connor
page 24
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL. 33831-9005 President – Ray Clark (863) 640-0719 rclark@tampabay. rr.com
Contents SEPTEMBER 2016 Market Watch
Master Gardener
Page 35
Page 10
Wakeup Call
Jack Payne
Page 12
Page 36
Fishing Hot Spots
Recipes
Page 14
Page 38
Women’s Leadership committee
Ellen Bryan
Page 40
Page 18
Rocking Chair Chatter
Page 22
Polk County Sheriff
Page 42
Literary Time Machine Activity
Page 26
Page 44
Endangered Species
A Closer Look
Page 28
Page 45
Florida Soy Beans
earthlink.net Mike Facente (863) 697-9419
Vice President Carlton Taylor 863-781-1146 Carlton.Taylor@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Standing Committee Chairs:
Secretary/Treasurer Justin Bunch (863) 425-1121 jbunch@agriumretail. com
Events & Director Kevin Fussell (863) 412-5876
State Director – David McCullers (863) 635-2821crookedlakeranch@verizon. net
Rodeo- Fred Waters (863) 559-7808
Director – J. B. Wynn (863) 581-3255 jbwynn29@gmail.com Charles Clark (863) 528-8537 cclarkc4@yahoo.com L.B. Flanders, DVM (863) 644-5974 Mike Fussell (863) 698-8314 fussell.flafarm@verizon. net Moby Persing 863-528-4567 Dave Tomkow (863) 665-5088 cattlemenslivestock@
Membership- J.B. Wynn
Trade Show-
Website – Adam Norman 863-944-9293 Adam.norman@gmfind. com Cattlewomen – Vice President, Laura Slocumb (863) 660-7000 laura@higgenbotham. com Extension – Bridget Carlisle PO Box 9005, Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL 33831 (863) 519-1048 bccarlis@ufl.edu Sheriff’s Dept. – Sgt. Tommy Dixon (863) 534-7205 tdixon@polksheriff.org
Page 31 4
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
WWW. WWW. IN INTTHE HE FFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
5
Letter from the Editor
STAFF Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry
Happy Anniversary! It’s been a full 10 years since the first Polk County issue of In The Field hit the streets. It was almost 2 years after the Hillsborough County edition was born and we were ready for a new adventure. We hit the streets running and haven’t looked back. We have enjoyed the first 10 years and look forward to many more years of Covering What is Growing in Polk County. If you read last month’s letter from the editor, you will remember that I was waxing nostalgic about the rural area where I grew up. Shortly following the printing of that magazine, the Greenup County Fair took place. Somehow I stumbled upon an article about the fair, the livestock shows, baking competitions, beauty contests, lawnmower races and auctions. It reminded me of many of the reasons I love fairs. My favorite part? The livestock auctions. Why not the shows? Well, the shows rank right up there at the top of my favorite things but the auctions are my favorite. I love it when the community shows their support of the youth who have worked so hard on the various projects. Showing our youth that hard work pays is a great way to insure that our future will be bright with hard working agriculturists. I’m sure as a child rides, games and greasy fair foods were the main attraction for me. I mean who doesn’t love throwing rings over bottles to win a fish that may or not make it home alive? But I recall even then being drawn to the livestock. I grew up on a farm with cattle, pigs, horses and a few chickens, but I never tired of looking at them. I remember being appalled at my “citified” friends who turned their noses up at the smell in the barns. I enjoyed walking through the building that house various jars of pickled something along side prized vegetables and baked goods. And, of course, the quilts and knitting projects always amazed me! Fairs allow us to embrace the roots of our county life. You are sure to have a good time, see friends and neighbors you may not see on a regular basis, and while the rides may be a good diversion, don’t forget the livestock, and other projects. You won’t regret seeing the talent and hard work that comes from your county. Until Next Month
Sales Manager Danny Crampton Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Melissa Nichols Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Al Berry Stephanie Humphrey Melissa Nichols Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Libby Hopkins Melissa Nichols Leslie Buchanon Contributing Writers Woody Gore
Sarah The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
Hey Readers!
Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker and a FREE In The Field T-Shirt. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner! 6
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
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 Cattlemen’s Association. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 335630042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc. Published by Berry Publications, Inc. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTRODUCING THE BEST-IN-CLASS
6-YEAR
POWERTRAIN WARRANTY ON COMPACT UTILITY TRACTORS
Introducing the Best-In-Class Standard 6-Year Warranty*, available on all Compact Utility Tractors*. You expect the highest quality when you buy a Deere, now expect it longer... We take pride in working with those who work with the land. With superior customer support through leasing, rentals, in-field service support, technology, the best parts availability, and loyalty programs just to name a few, we’re ready to be your equipment partner for the long haul. And with the Best-In-Class Standard 6-Year Warranty*, your partner for the long-er haul… Give us a call or visit us online today EvergladesFarmEquipment.com
ShopEFE com
John Deere Parts/New/Used Equip.
Plant City
2805 SR. 60 West Plant City, FL 33567
Leesburg
1800 US HWY. 441 Leesburg, FL 34748
813-737-1660
352-315-1016
Odessa
2240 Success Drive Odessa, FL 33556
Okeechobee
727-842-8618
820 US Hwy. 98, North Okeechobee, FL 34972
Clearwater
863-763-1921
5090 Ulmerton Road Clearwater, FL 33760
727-828-8200
Fort Pierce
6150 Orange Ave. Ft. Pierce, FL 34947
Palmetto
772-461-5568
906 US HWY 301 North Palmetto, FL 34221
941-722-3281
Loxahatchee
13295 Southern Blvd. Loxahatchee, FL 33470
Fort Myers
561-784-4000
9501 State Road 82 Fort Myers, FL 33905
239-332-5045
Belle Glade
Corporate Headquarters
Immokalee
775 E. Main St. Immokalee , FL 34142
239-657-4413
2017 N. W. 16TH Belle Glade, FL 33430
Naples
561-996-6531
1945 Pine Ridge Road Naples , FL 34109
239-260-8800
Beginning 1/1/2016 all Sub-Compact and Compact Utility Tractors purchased new from Everglades Farm Equipment come standard with a 6 year/2000 hour (whichever comes first) www.EvergladesFarmEquipment.com Powertrain Manufacturer’s Warranty Statement for New John Deere Turf & Utility Equipment at Everglades Farm Equipment for complete details. WWW. INTWarranty. HEFIELDSee Mthe AGAZINE.COM INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE September 2016 7
Well, here we are moving into September and Fall is just around the corner. I know if your like me and many others you are ready for some cooler weather. It’s been a hot and wet summer for most of us, rain has been spotty in some areas, But most pastures are looking good going into the Fall. Many of us are also ready for football season and of course hunting season. There seems to be plenty of dove around for the dove hunters out there and the deer and turkey populations seem to be on the rise, also. By the time you read this we will have had our Fall Quarterly State Cattlemen’s meetings at Warner University. I hope some of you had a chance to attend some of the sessions. Also mark your calendar for our State Florida Ranch Rodeo Finals & Osceola Heritage Day, September 30 – October 1 in Kissimmee, FL. There will also be the 2016 FCA Ranch Horse Competition on October 1 at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee. Some more dates you may want to mark in your calendar are September16, the 22nd Annual FCA Quality Replacement Heifer Sale held at the Arcadia Stockyards Market. There also will be the Florida Heritage Beef Replacement Heifer Sale on Tuesday August 30 at 1:00pm also at the Arcadia Stockyard. Be sure to check your Florida Cattlemen and Livestock Journal all members receive once a month, for many bull sales coming up in October and November. Don’t forget to go down to
88
IINNTTHE HEFFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE
SSeptember eptember 2016 2016
Crooked Lake Ranch and check out their Black Hereford bulls. Check with David McCullers for an appointment to look at them. We will have one that was donated to our County Association to be auctioned off at our Fall Dinner and Meeting in November. The Ranch has many to chose from. In closing for this month, get out and ride the back roads of Polk County and look at our cattle and pastures. You will see some of the best operations in the south. Our cattlemen and cattlewomen are wonderful at maintaining our eco systems and providing quality cattle to the markets. I am proud to be able to represent our cattle operations in Polk County. All you ranch owners, small or large, should be proud of the products you are producing. A question I get nearly every day is, how’s the market? Well I tell them its like our Florida weather. The market changes from day to day. But just think back a few years ago and it’s a lot better now than then. Hope to see you soon, be safe working those cows
Ray Clark
Ray Clark Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
WWW. WWW.IIN NTTHE HEFFIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
• Plows were invented in the Middle East soon after agriculture began. The earliest plow, called an ard, was probably made from sharpened tree branches. The plow has been cited as one of the most important inventions in the advancement of society. • In 1954, the number of tractors on farms surpassed the number of horses and mules for the first time. • In 1830, it took about 250 to 300 labor hours to produce 100 bushels (5 acres) of wheat. In 1975, it took just 3¾ hours. • Soybeans are an important ingredient for the production of crayons. In fact, one acre of soybeans can produce 82,368 crayons. • The word agriculture is the English adaptation of Latin agricultura, from ager, “a field” and cultura, “cultivation” in the strict sense of “tillage of the soil”. Thus, a literal reading of the word yields “tillage of a field / of fields.” • More than half of America’s farmers intentionally provide habitat for wildlife. Deer, moose, fowl and other species have shown significant population increases for decades.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
9
Sunflower Sizzle
Florida Master Gardener By Debra Howell Florida Master Gardener UF/IFAS Extension Polk County The sunflower was domesticated by early Native Americans into a single headed plant with numerous seed colors. These seeds are white, red, black and black and white striped. Although the sunflower is a native of North America, Russia is responsible for its commercialization. The Russians and the Native Americans may have completed the plant genetics, but it was the North Americans who perfected its hybridization. Sunflowers have been a staple for a very long time. Native American people of the Eastern Plains supplemented their bison-meat diets with seasonal wild vegetable foods such as sunflowers and Jerusalem artichokes. Eventually these people, who settled near springs and streams, began to cultivate the sunflowers and store the starchy seeds for later use. This practice was undertaken by the Eastern Woodland Indians, such as the Creeks. As a result, sunflower cultivation began in what would become the American Southwest, in the area destined to be Arizona and New Mexico. Indeed, people of the Eastern Woodlands cultivated sunflowers 2,000 years prior to the practice of maize (corn) cultivation. The name of these ancient sunflowers is Helianthus annulus. Helianthus means Helia=sun, anthus=flower. Native Americans had several uses for the sunflower. The seeds were squeezed and used as oil. They were processed into flour using a mano and metate similar to a mortar and pestle. The flour was used to make food stuffs like bread or mush, which was akin to oatmeal. Sometimes it was mixed in along with the famous “three sisters” dish of corn, squash and beans. The ancient sunflowers were also used in ceremonies by Native Americans such as the Aztecs. The Aztecs liked sunflowers so much that they used images of them in the temples they constructed. The stalks of the sunflower were used as building 10
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
material, and certain plant parts were thought to even cure maladies and snakebites. More recently, sunflower stems were pressed into service and used as the first filler material for life jacket flotation devices. During the time in North American history, known as “Contact,” the sunflower came under the radar of the Europeans who returned to Spain with specimens of these plants. Thanks to Peter the Great, sunflowers gained popularity in the 1700s. Their fame really exploded when the Russian Orthodox Church forbade nearly all oil foods from consumption during the rite of Lent. Since sunflower seed oil did not make this “no-no” list, sunflower oil burgeoned in popularity. As a result, by early 1800, Russia was cultivating at least two million acres of sunflowers. It is speculated that Russian immigrants are responsible for the re-introduction of sunflowers into North America via Russian sunflower seeds. The resulting initial crop was used for poultry silage. The first processing was accomplished in 1926, when the Missouri Sunflower Growers Association began making sunflower oil. As a result, the cultivation of sunflowers spread into North Dakota, Minnesota and then into Canada. Researching information for these articles is always surprising and enlightening. For instance, in the late 70s, sunflower acreage in the United States greatly increased due to a high demand by the Europeans for our sunflower oil. You see, it seems that about that same time, we had all just discovered the need to watch our cholesterol. Since animal fats were the new villain on the block, Europe turned to the United States to supply their sunflower oil needs. These days Western Europe grows their own sunflower crops. Who knew that over-indulgence and consumption of the wrong type of fats would provide the impetus to increase our sunflower cultivation footprint? WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
New varieties of sunflowers are coming along all the time. Newer colors are maroon, which appears black when photographed, tan, striped and orange. A new variety of sunflowers that has been created is a low-pollen form which may become a favorite of asthma sufferers. Pollen-free cultivars include Sunrich, Sunbright, Sunbeam and Moonbright. Sunflower seeds, a popular snack in the baseball bullpen, contain 50 percent fat, but it is polyunsaturated linoleic acid and deemed healthy. The snack-type sunflower seeds are the striped seeds, whereas the sunflower oil is made from the black seeds. Most commercially grown sunflowers are used as birdseed, snacks and oil. They are also utilized in biodiesel, medicine and animal feed.
types two or three feet apart. If you desire to create a hedge or maze with your sunflowers, you may place them closer. But in doing so, the flowers may not be as big. Because of their top-heavy nature, you may want to shelter the plants from the wind by planting the seeds along a privacy fence or next to a structure. Sunflowers do best in soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. This is the pH range you will find in most of Central Florida’s soils. Since Helianthus literally means “sun flower,” it dictates that they must receive full sun to bloom and prosper. A good thing about sunflowers is that they are not plagued with many pests, except maybe a stinkbug or two.
Sunflowers range from a towering height of 20 feet tall down to the Helianthus debilis (beach sunflower), a spreading perennial two or three feet in height. The beach sunflower, or dune sunflower, is ideal planted in a difficult area such as a slope and allowed to run. This particular type has three inch flowers which are very attractive to butterflies. It has dark green, glossy foliage, as well.
Sunflowers, with their interesting history and circuitous trade route, have become not only a global food source, but are a vastly popular garden plant as well. They are great for a snack to eat, as well as to share with the birds and squirrels. Another added bonus of sunflowers is the beauty they impart as cut flowers. They will light up your dining table with a quaint splendor that just feels like home.
Plant your sunflower seeds after risk of frost has passed. You will need to cover the smaller seeds with a half inch of soil. For the larger seeds, one inch of soil is required. Germination generally takes five to ten days. The seedlings should be thinned out, leaving the smaller types one foot apart and the larger
For more information on growing sunflowers or other plants in Polk County, contact the Plant Clinic at UF/IFAS Extension Polk County. You can reach us at (863) 519-1057 or online at http://polkextension.com.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
11
Tools You Can Use By Jack Payne
The agenda for the Florida Ag Expo at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) on November 2 includes a session on the Q-biotype whitefly, but not because it’s already wreaking havoc on your fruit and vegetable crops. As of this writing, there’s still no evidence that the Q-biotype has infested local fruit or vegetable fields. The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is dedicated to delivering solutions to growers. Often that means starting before the problem even arises. That’s the case with the Q-biotype. Getting a head start is why we send researchers abroad looking at threats we expect to arrive here. It’s why we do so much work on monitoring and detection. It’s why our researchers test possible solutions for things that aren’t a problem for you – yet. It’s also why we recognize that it’s important to put our discoveries into your hands. No one can implement solutions to your problems better than you can. You just need the tools. That’s why we have the Expo. At the Expo you’ll hear from IFAS scientists about what should concern you about the Q-biotype whitefly, and probably some about what shouldn’t concern you. It won’t just be talk, either. Some of you will have the chance to practice identifying whiteflies and other bugs using microscopes in the lab of Dr. Hugh Smith of our GCREC faculty. He’ll help you differentiate harmful pests from benign bugs.
There’s lots more on the agenda – field tours, the grower panel, exhibitors, and a no-cost lunch if you register in advance at floridaagexpo.com. The Expo is one way UF/IFAS partners with growers to get a head start on things that could become problems and share strategies on how we can more successfully address them if they do. With so many existing and potential threats to agriculture, it’s imperative that we work together on this. The Expo is such an important event that I’ve invited my entire leadership team – including the directors of all 12 IFAS research centers and 14 academic department chairs – to Balm to participate. If you want the ear of IFAS leadership, the Ag Expo is the place to do it. What you’ll get the most out of, though, is talking to our faculty, the men and women who are working for you every day in the greenhouse, the lab, and the experimental fields. The Expo will give you a chance to see things you couldn’t otherwise see – because they’re so tiny, like bugs, that they escape notice. Or because they haven’t even happened yet. I hope to see you there. I look forward to talking science with you.
Jack Payne is the senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. jackpayne@ufl.edu • @JackPayneIFAS 12
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
New UF/IFAS method detects low-dose impacts of man-made chemicals in water
UF/IFAS File: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers, led by agricultural and biological engineering professor Rafael Munoz-Carpena, have found a better way to assess the potential impacts of low doses of man-made chemicals — like pharmaceuticals and personal care products — on water bodies and their ecosystems. By Brad Buck
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers have found a better way to assess the potential impacts of low dose mixtures of man-made chemicals — like pharmaceuticals and personal care products — on water bodies and their ecosystems. Such products – known to scientists as PPCPs – are widely released into the world’s freshwaters and oceans, where they mix at low concentrations over long time periods and seep into diverse environmental pathways such as surface water, groundwater, drinking water or soil. “The end effect could be degradation of aquatic life,” said Rafael Muñoz-Carpena, a UF/IFAS professor of agricultural and biological engineering and a lead author of a new UF/IFAS-led study. “Some pharmaceuticals that individually are typically not toxic at even high doses, can damage aquatic life at very low doses when present in complex mixtures often found in natural waters after wastewater finds its way there.” Most PPCPs have been found and analyzed in high concentrations individually, but a new test developed by the UF/IFAS-led team detects the effects of the chemicals in low-dose mixtures.
Scientists found that a handful of the PPCPs in the mixtures, particularly antibiotics and other commonly used medicines, may impede processes such as growth, assimilation of nutrients, photosynthesis, reproduction and more, Muñoz-Carpena said. Results from the study confirm that less-than-lethal effects from PPCPs mixtures make freshwater ecosystems more susceptible to later stresses such as light, temperature, nutrient availability and competition with other organisms, Muñoz-Carpena said. “Our new method can be used not only to study impacts to aquatic systems of emerging chemicals, but also with human cells, biosensors and more,” Muñoz-Carpena said. Despite the abundance of these chemicals, scientists still don’t know the full effects of PPCPs on the environment, partly because they haven’t found the right testing method. “This opens exciting opportunities for many life sciences, like medicine or cell biology, facing real world complex problems.” The new UF/IFAS-led study is published in the journal Science Advances, http://bit.ly/2cFPGfs.
In the study, the team tested their method in a freshwater environment that they created in their lab. They selected PPCPs including antibiotics, caffeine, analgesics and psychiatric drugs. Researchers then mixed those 16 chemicals with blue algae engineered to produce light. They used changes in the light signal to gauge the toxicity of the different mixtures of chemicals in the bacteria. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
13
Katie Atkins - Snook
Artificial Lures-Topwater
A Captivating and Charismatic Challenge to Fishing!
Dalton Frog Spot
Top Dog Jr
If you’re interested in new and exciting challenges and looking for some different early morning action, dig deep in the old tackle box and pull out that old Dalton topwater Frog Spot that you used to catch bass on or better yet tie on that new green back/silverside/white belly Top Dog Jr. from MirrOLure and walk-the-dog across a calm morning grass flat or around some mangrove island cuts. For any topwater artificial angler, either experienced or novice, finding the words to describe what happens next becomes challenging. As you purposely make cast after cast, the anticipation of that next explosive strike can drive you nuts. You know it’s going to happen but, when it’s going to happen is the question. So, determinedly you continue making those pin point casts and unconsciously work your lure back to the boat as you anxiously wait for that surface busting strike of a large Snook or that water moving swirl of a stalking Redfish. For freshwater or saltwater anglers, there is nothing more exhilarating than fishing with a topwater artificial lure and the anticipation and expectation of the next strike. The eagerness is so spectacular that when it happens… you seem to stand there in shock and awe trying to remind yourself not to set the hook until you feel the fish bend the rod. From other articles I’ve written you’ve probably gathered that when it comes to fishing, artificial lures are close to my heart. There is something magical about deceiving a fish into striking a man made lure. Over the years, I’ve used everything imaginable to catch fish. Live baits, dead baits, artificial lures, plastic lures, wooden lures; one time I even used a strip of old white tee shirt to catch spotted sea trout. And I’ve come to this conclusion, if it has action and looks wounded something’s going to try and eat it. 14 14
IINNTTHE HEFFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE
Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
SSeptember eptember 2016 2016
So, if you’re looking for something different why not try your hand at artificial lures. Sure it is going to take time to figure it out, but it took time to figure out the live and dead bait thing, too. Artificial lures catch fish and I promise that you will love the challenge. You’ll be surprised at how many fish you’ll catch and how much fun you’ll have doing it. Remember, it’s not always about catching fish, sometimes it’s about enjoying your time on the water with your wife, son or daughter or maybe a good friend.
Tampa Bay Fishing Report September 2016 Captain Woody Gore – www.captainwoodygore.com The water will start cooling down and the fish should start
getting comfortable and a little more excited about being fish. The bite has been decent during the last weeks of August and I expect it to continue right through the fall. You can expect good catches all over Tampa Bay using live bait and artificial lures. There are plenty of redfish and snook hanging around the many lush grass flats and mangrove shorelines. As redfish move back into the bay it’s usually easy to find them schooled up on the flats. It’s also the time of the year when we see some of the big redfish starting to show up. You never know whether you’re going to a catch one in the slot or one of the giants over 30 inches, so be prepared. These big reds often top the scales at 12 to 14 pounds. Most of the snook we are catching average in the 25 to 30 inch range. For those who like the night life associated with snook fishing, this is great time. They’re hanging under residential WWW. INITNHE FIELD MM AGAZINE.COM WWW. THE FIELD AGAZINE.COM
Erica Huie - Tarpon docks watching the light line for a quick meal. Use a shallow diving artificial lure or free-line big shrimp. Make sure to use a weighty leader like Seaguar 30-40 lb. As for the others, expect some good sized mangrove snapper at the bridges with some topping out around three pounds. Cobia are showing up and for us it usually only takes a chum bag over the side to spark their curiosity. If you hook-up, be ready with another rod and bait as other cobias will be following the action. Mackerel, bluefish, jacks and ladyfish will be feeding on bait schools everywhere. If its glass minnows they’re after try to match the hatch. Never turn your fishing nose up at ladyfish and jacks especially when kids are involved. They can certainly make or break a trip. Most children are not interested in fishing, however they are interested in catching and they don’t care what it is. When you take kids fishing make sure it’s all about them catching fish. You’ll get your turn when you and your buds get out.
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing” 813-477-3814
Captain Woody Gore is the area’s top outdoor fishing guide. Guiding and fishing the west central Florida areas for over fifty years; he offers world class fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories. Multi-boat Group Charters With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Captain Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament. Just tell him what you need and it’s done.
Visit his website at: WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM send an email to wgore@ix.netcom.com or give me a call at 813-477-3814 WWW. WWW.IINNTTHE HEFFIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
IINNTTHE HEFFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE
September September 2016 2016
15 15
Giving back to our communities is
As a native Floridian and manager at Mosaic, I know that our employees are committed to the communities where we live, work and play. We work not only to produce essential phosphate crop nutrients, but also to reclaim the land, conserve our water and practice good stewardship of our natural resources. That’s why I am proud to see post-mined lands like Hardee Lakes Park being used for recreation, festivals and local events. At Mosaic, we know that giving our time and resources is a wise investment in the community — for our families as well as yours. We help the world grow the food it needs.
®
mosaicco.com/florida Kenny Miller, Assistant General Manager Four Corners Mine, Florida
16
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
© 2016 The Mosaic Company
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
17
FARM BUREAU’S WOMEN LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE PARTNERS WITH FEEDING TAMPA BAY TO DELIVER THOUSANDS OF MEALS By Jim Frankowiak
Representatives of county Farm Bureau Women’s Committees in District V recently participated in a community service project benefitting Feeding Tampa Bay, an organization founded in 1982 that is part of the national Feeding America network. The organization focuses on providing food to the more than 700,000 hungry in the 10-county area of West Central Florida. “Our meeting was multi-faceted,” said District V Chairwoman Michelle Williamson. “Participants brought and contributed more than 230-pounds of non-perishable food items, toured the Feeding Tampa Bay facility in Tampa and help to sort and pack 13,000-pounds of food that will serve 11,300 meals.” The project is a continuation of support from the Committee which was instrumental in securing a $5,000 donation for Feeding Tampa Bay’s Mobile Pantry Program from the Florida Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. District V includes Committee members from Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Polk, Pinellas and Sumter counties, which are all covered by Feeding Tampa Bay. “Our November meeting will be held at a location to be determined in Pasco County where the mobile food pantry will be in operation,” said Williamson. “We will provide recipes and nutritional information for parents and adults, plus several ‘make and take’ activities for children to help educate youngsters about the importance of agriculture and so they develop an understanding and appreciation of where their food comes from and the impact of Agriculture on their everyday lives.” In addition to Feeding Tampa Bay’s position as the driving force behind all food relief in Tampa Bay, the organization is not only committed to fighting hunger with food, but with knowledge of the issue. “Florida is fourth in the nation for family hunger,” said Feeding Tampa Bay’s Procurement Director Jane Simon. “Sixty percent of the population in West Central Florida is eligible for food stamps. Many at-risk students won’t eat at all between lunch Friday and breakfast Monday morning. These facts are hard realities for the one in seven in our region that face hunger.
and individuals don’t know where their next meal will come from and this impacts all ages and ethnic groups.” Feeding Tampa Bay distributes food through a partnership network of more than 500 faith-based and other incorporated, non-profit hunger relief groups. “We serve a population of close to 700,000 food insecure residents across West Central Florida, one in four of which are children.” Surplus food is donated by growers, manufacturers, supermarkets and organized community food drives. In the last year, Feeding Tampa Bay supplied more than 48-million pounds of food, equivalent to 40-million meals, to its 10-county service area. “That’s enough to provide more than 3.3-million meals every month to those who would otherwise go hungry,” she added. Since there are many factors contributing to hunger in this area, Feeding Tampa Bay has developed programs addressing each. From feeding hungry children between school meals, to making sure those without transportation have nutritious food to eat; Feeding Tampa Bay’s programs often mean the difference between eating and not eating for the food insecure. These initiatives include distribution of emergency food suppliers via partnerships with more than 500 local charities and food pantries; mobile pantries that bring nutritious foods to designated “food deserts” – areas where quality, affordable foods are lacking, as well as disaster relief. “We are grateful to organizations like Farm Bureau’s Women’s Leadership Committee for their financial help, hands on assistance and educational initiatives that help the community we serve,” said Simon. For more information about Feeding Tampa Bay and ways you can help, visit the organization’s website: http://feedingtampabay.org.
“Children and seniors make up nearly half of the hunger population in Tampa Bay,” said Simon. “Thousands of hard working families 18
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Injecting Citrus Tree Trunks With Bactericide May Help Stem Greening By Brad Buck
A chemical treatment known as a bactericide could help preserve citrus trees from the potentially deadly and costly greening disease, a new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences study shows. Citrus is estimated as a $10.9 billion-a-year industry in Florida and the finding could be key to helping the state’s citrus growers and its economy. Citrus greening has cost Florida $3.6 billion in economic damage since it was first discovered in 2005, according to previous UF/IFAS studies. It is projected that more than 80 percent of citrus trees have been infected by greening. Nian Wang, a UF/IFAS associate professor of microbiology and cell science, led the latest study, which found that when a bactericide – in this case, oxytetracycline — is injected into the trunk of greening-infected citrus trees, it helps keep the trees alive by thwarting greening, also known as Huanglongbing, or HLB. “This application is more targeted,” said Wang said, a faculty member at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, Florida. “It increases efficiency of bactericide applications by ensuring that factors such as light and rainfall don’t degrade the treatments before they can go to work targeting the HLB-causing bacteria.” Credit: UF/IFAS file photo: Nian Wang, a UF/IFAS associate professor of microbiology and cell science, led a new study, which found that when a bactericide – in this case, oxytetracycline — is injected into the trunk of greening-infected citrus trees, it helps keep the trees alive by thwarting greening. Citrus is estimated as a $10.9 billion-a-year industry in Florida and the finding could be key to helping the state’s citrus growers and its economy. Citrus greening has cost Florida $3.6 billion in economic damage since it was first discovered in 2005, according to previous UF/IFAS studies. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Another advantage: Results from the study show that trunk injections were successful in delivering bactericides not only to leaves but to the diseased root system of infected trees, resulting in reduced bacteria levels in both leaves and roots for up to nine months. “Using trunk injection technology, you can probably treat the HLB-diseased trees one time per year and have good control,” Wang said. The process costs about $2 to $4 per tree for labor and material, UF/IFAS researchers said. At $4 per tree, figuring an average of 140 trees per acre for oranges, that’s $560 per acre, as estimated by UF/IFAS economists. Wang’s study is published in the Phytopathology Journal, http://bit.ly/2c6ZaBl. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
19
Farm to School program Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam
The beginning of each school year ushers in a whole new set of experiences for Florida’s children, whether it is a new classroom, new teacher, new classmates or even a whole new school. This year, Florida students will be going back to more than new classes, teachers and friends – we’re working to make sure they will see more Florida products in their meals, too. As Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture, improving the nutritional value of school meals by adding more locally grown produce to school trays is one of my top priorities. In 2011, I worked with the Legislature to move Florida’s School Nutrition Program from the Department of Education to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Because of our knowledge of and relationships with the agriculture industry, I believed then and still believe now that we can better connect Florida’s growers and producers with schools and direct more of our world-class fresh fruits and vegetables to school cafeterias. We make these connections through our Farm to School program. Every year, Florida schools spend millions of dollars for fresh produce. The Farm to School program is intended to open the door for more of those dollars to stay within Florida. It also supports Florida farmers by promoting opportunities for schools and growers to work together to increase the volume of locally grown product that is served in school cafeterias and dining halls. For example, the Farm to School program helped facilitate the purchase of more than 17,000 pounds of Florida-grown blueberries and 15,000 pounds of Florida-grown peaches for Orange County schools in one purchase last year. This is just 20
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
one example of the hundreds of purchases the program helps facilitate between Florida’s producers and schools. All told, the program helped facilitate the purchase of more than 3.5 million pounds of Florida produce in 2015. These purchases not only gave students the opportunity to enjoy fresh, Florida produce, but also it supported producers in the community. In addition to better connecting growers and schools, the department has helped coordinate statewide lunch menus to coincide with Florida’s harvest seasons. By aligning the produce side of the school menus with Florida’s harvest seasons, Florida’s schools are able to access more locally grown produce at affordable prices. Incorporating locally grown products into school meals also supports local economies, reduces transportation costs and helps preserve farms and farmland. By making these important changes, we’re working to ensure that all children have access to the healthy meals they need to succeed in school. We’re proud of the improvements to school nutrition across the state because research shows there is a direct connection between nutrition and academic success. Eating a wholesome breakfast improves academic performance, increases attendance and increases the likelihood of high school graduation. Florida has an abundance of fresh, wholesome fruits and vegetables – exactly what should be served in school cafeterias. We are committed to exploring opportunities to further marry farmers with school districts, incorporating technology to increase awareness of product availability and need and creating additional demand for product during harvesting times. Expanding access to nutritious foods through agricultural partnerships and education efforts, we will help foster healthier eating habits among our youngest residents, creating a better and brighter Florida for children and farmers. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Smart Farmers & Country Home Owners Who borrowed from Farm Credit received a personal visit from a United States President! Farm Credit of Central Florida puts its profits in its Member/Borrowers’ pockets in the form of a patronage refund payment which can significantly lower the cost of funds to the member.
A $100,000 loan
at a 4.5% interest rate receiving a12% patronage would reduce the rate of interest to 3.96%.
Ask your Farm Credit loan officer about the details of a patronage refund and our diverse loan products.
866.245.3637 | FarmCreditCFL.com Loans for land, homes & country living
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
21
Armed Forces
My friend John Lyons in Plant City sent me an email the other day that pretty much hits the nail on the head. I am over 60 and the Armed Forces thinks I’m too old to track down terrorists. You can’t be older than 42 to join the military. They’ve got the whole thing backwards. Instead of sending 18-year olds off to fight, they ought to take us old guys. You shouldn’t be able to join a military unit until you’re at least 35. For starters, researchers say 18-year-olds think about women every 10 seconds. Old guys only think about women a couple of times a month, leaving us more than 280,000 additional seconds per day to concentrate on the enemy. Young guys haven’t lived long enough to be cranky, and a cranky soldier is a dangerous soldier. ‘My back hurts! I can’t sleep, I’m tired and hungry.’ We are bad-tempered and impatient. An 18-year-old doesn’t even like to get up before 10 am. Old guys always get up early to pee. Besides, like I said, I’m tired and can’t sleep and since I’m already up, I may as well be up chasing some fanatical enemy. If captured we couldn’t spill the beans because we’d forget where we put them. In fact, name, rank, and serial number would be a real brainteaser. Boot camp would be easier for old guys. We’re used to getting screamed and yelled at and we’re used to soft food. We’ve also developed an appreciation for guns. We’ve been using them for years as an excuse to get out of the house, away from the screaming and yelling. They could lighten up on the obstacle course however. I’ve been in combat and never saw a single 20-foot wall with rope hanging over the side, nor did I ever do any pushups after completing basic training. Actually, the running part is kind of a waste of energy, too. I’ve never seen anyone outrun a bullet. An 18-year-old has the whole world ahead of him. He’s still learning to shave and to start a conversation with a pretty girl. He still hasn’t figured out that a baseball cap has a brim to shade his eyes, not the back of his head. These are all great reasons to keep our kids at home to learn a little more about life before sending them off into harm’s way. Let us old guys track down those terrorists. The last thing an enemy would want to see is a couple million of old farts with bad attitudes and automatic weapons that know that their best years are already behind them. 22
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
HEY!! How about recruiting Women over 50...in menopause!!! You think MEN have attitudes?? My goodness!!! If nothing else, put them on border patrol. They’ll have it secured the first night, and Trump would not have to build a wall. I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a lot more as they get older. Then it dawned on me. They are cramming for their finals. As for me, I hope God grades on the curve. The older you get the tougher it is to lose weight because by then your body and fat have gotten to be really good friends. Did you ever notice the Roman Numerals for forty (40) are XL. I just realized that when you put the two words “The” and “IRS” it spells “Theirs”! Sometimes I should be ashamed for the things I say. The other day I was in the Town Square Mall in Brandon. I went into a store that sells sunglasses, and only sunglasses. A young lady walked over to me and says, “What brings you in today?” I looked at her and said. “I’m interested in buying a refrigerator.” Did you ever wonder why women don’t put pictures of their missing husbands on beer cans? Then, there is the story of a man and woman that had been married for many years. Whenever there was confrontation, yelling could be heard deep into the night. The old man would shout, “When I die, I will dig my way up and out of the grave and come back and haunt you for the rest of your life!” Even the neighbors were afraid of him. The old man liked the fact that he was feared. Then one evening, he died at the age of 99. After the burial, her neighbors, concerned for her safety, asked, “Aren’t you afraid that he may really be able to dig his way out of the grave and haunt you for the rest of your life?” The wife said, “Let him dig. I had him buried upside down and I know he will not ask for directions.” In Seminole County, Florida the Sheriff’s Office made two arrests last year without ever having to leave the county jail. The first man walked into the lobby, and asked for “Dave,” and lit up a marijuana cigarette. When the man turned to leave, deputies stopped him and told to empty his pockets. He dumped out a small bag of marijuana, and was taken into custody immediately. Later that same day, deputies made another arrest on the jail’s roof. The suspect, wanted on a charge of selling goods stolen from a pawnshop, was re-roofing the jail at the time of his arrest. His secret was discovered during a routine background check of everyone who does contract work for the county. In closing, if you ever get bored, park your car along side the road with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars! WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
All Of Ser ving orida Fl Central
• • • •
New Installations Septic Pumping Drain Field Repairs Lift Stations
863-668-7264
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Septic
Lic#SR0890218
FREE ESTIMATES
Re s i d e n tia Commer l & cial
• • • •
Grease Traps Fill Dirt Culvert Pipes Septic Inspections
“Your Septic Specialists”
www.southeasternseptic.com
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
23
provider of credit to agriculture and rural America.
866.245.3637 “MR. AGCRICULTURE”
RON O’CONNOR FarmCreditCFL.com
Loans for land, homes &FARM country living RETIRING FROM CREDIT OF CENTRAL FLORIDA By Jim Frankowiak more than one-third of the credit needed by those who live and work in rural America. Local ownership enables each cooperative to understand the industry sectors they finance and provide an unparalleled level of knowledge to their borrower-owners. There are more than 70-cooperatives in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, providing more than $217-billion in loans, leases and related services, helping nearly 500,000 borrowers. Farm Credit of Central Florida serves 13 counties with five offices. “It has been my responsibility to carry out the board policies relating to marketing and government relations,” he noted. “Our President, Reggie Holt, and our board of directors have continually supported my efforts to promote Farm Credit of Central Florida and Florida agriculture. I have been blessed to work with true visionaries and astute agri-businessmen and women.”
In his own words, Ron O’Connor is “urban by birth and agricultural by the grace of God.” That pretty much sums the way he describes his life and career with Farm Credit of Central Florida, where he is Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing and Government Affairs. Ron has announced his retirement, effective at the end of October. His retirement will mean much more than the departure of a valued employee. His tireless efforts on behalf of agriculture locally, regionally and nationally, plus his wide-ranging community service are contributions that will be sorely missed. Born in Tampa, a graduate of Lakeland High School, Polk Community College and the University of Florida with a degree in Broadcasting and a minor in Management, Ron was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at UF. He joined Farm Credit of Central Florida in 1987 with primary responsibility for advertising and public relations plus a good sized room which housed the various forms used by the federally chartered, locally operated cooperative owned by its members and borrowers applying for and securing loans. “That was a big part of my job initially, but that all changed with advances in technology,” he said. “We went from just two computers in the office when I joined Farm Credit to a PC on every desk, but I survived and those advances prompted the evolution of my position with increased emphasis on government relations, primarily at the federal level.” Farm Credit of Central Florida is one of three such cooperatives in Florida, all are part of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of borrower-owned lending institutions. Congress established the System in 1916 to provide a reliable source of credit for the nation’s farmers, ranchers and growers. Today, the System provides 24
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
Those efforts have been substantial throughout Ron’s tenure with Farm Credit. He is past President of the Ag Institute of Florida, past Vice President of the Florida Citrus Showcase, on the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Ag Council board, Florida FFA Foundation board, 36-year member and past President of the Lakeland South Rotary which has recognized him with Outstanding Service Awards on five, separate occasions. Ron has also served as Chairman of the Farm Credit/Ag Institute Candidates Forum which has brought the gubernatorial and Florida Cabinet candidates together to present their Ag platforms to an audience of Florida agriculture’s most influential thought leaders, members of the Florida Cattlemen’s Allied Committee, as well as the Florida Nursery and Growers Landscape Associates (FNGLA) Allied Division. His efforts on behalf of agriculture have been broadly recognized. He is recipient of the Farm Credit System’s National Marketer of the Year Award, the 2014 Lifetime Commitment & Longstanding Achievement Award from the Florida Cattlemen’s Institute & Trade Show Committee, 2012 Outstanding Sponsor Award from the Central Florida Livestock Agent’s Group, 2015 National Friend of Extension Award from the Epsilon Sigma Phi (national fraternity of County Extension Agents), 2012 Brevard County Farm Bureau’s Distinguished Farm Service Award, Florida Association of County Ag Agents 2013 Outstanding Agriculturalist, 2014 Florida Council of Co-ops Outstanding Cooperator Award, Honorary FFA State Degree and 20089 Honorary Director of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources. “Ron is the ultimate promoter,” said Farm Credit of Central Florida President Reggie Holt. “He has done a great job promoting Farm WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Credit and agriculture throughout Florida and the nation.” Ron is also a past president and co-founder of the County Gator Club, where he met his wife, Andrea. Incidentally, Ron and Andrea were married at a Gator game. He has two children, Michael and Brittany, from a previous marriage and they have “given me three wonderful grandsons, Robert, 8, Harrison, 2, and Henry who is about to reach six-months of age. Michael is Director of Operations at Dixie Jet & Rotor in Lakeland, while Brittany is an attorney with the law firm of Dean Mead at the firm’s Tallahassee office. Though Ron’s “bucket list” has not been finalized, “I know for sure I will be spending more with my grandsons, and I really look forward to that.” He also wants to visit all 50 states. “I haven’t been to Minnesota, Iowa, the Dakotas, Nebraska or Oklahoma, yet.” “My co-workers tease me about never working and now I can reveal, they are correct,” said Ron. “They say if you have a job you love, you will never work a day in your life! I consider myself privileged to have had the opportunity to work with Farm Credit of Central Florida for almost 30 years, helping Florida farmers, ranchers and growers engage in their noble profession of producing America’s and indeed, the world’s, food and fiber. I can’t complain about anything regarding my job, it has been a pleasure working with people I respect and admire.” Ron has a nickname given to him by Farm Credit Director Ron Wetherington of Plant City. It’s “two shot” and it stems from his photographic skills, which have evolved over the years to the point where he is recognized for that skillset and relied on by many for his photos. The nickname relates to Ron’s practice of always taking extra photos “just to be sure” and it has spread far. “I walked into Congressman Dennis Ross’ DC office and he said, Is that Two-Shot? I knew then Ron Wetherington had preceded me.” There’s a good chance that he may continue with photography in retirement.
represented in the future, Ron has been a staple in our industry for so long; he will truly be missed by all of us. He is an amazing personality and a wonderful man. We wish him all the best.” Farm Credit Director Dale McClellan, president of M & B Products, Inc., calls Ron “a big part of my relationship with Farm Credit of Central Florida and the ag community. I’m truly going to miss him.” Farm Credit of Central Florida Board Chairman Robbie Robersen considers Ron to be “an institution of Farm Credit. Throughout his career he has meant a great deal to many groups, not just those in Florida agriculture, but elsewhere and in the community at large. We’ll miss him a lot.” “Ron is a true Southern gentleman, a man respected by all of his peers,” said Farm Credit Director C. Dennis Carlton, Sr., a cattleman, citrus grower and real estate broker. “He is someone whose influence is felt from Tallahassee to Washington. Ron’s smile and statesman-like countenance will be missed by all of the stockholders, board members and staff. His heart and soul will remain with Farm Credit because he truly believes in the cooperative mission – to provide reliable, consistent credit and financial services to the agricultural and rural communities of Central Florida.”
“I have loved taking pictures at agricultural events and found tremendous satisfaction in seeing how much they can mean to people,” he said. “I have come to regard this as the most personal form of public. One couple invited me to their 50th wedding anniversary party and I took a photo of their hands clasped in a loving embrace on top of a red Bible. A few years later, the wife called me and told me they were putting that photo on their tombstone. It brought tears to my eyes that such a simple gesture was that meaningful to them.” “Another couple whose photo I took on a dinner cruise at the FNGLA convention with a beautiful sunset in the background passed away soon after. Their son told me later that photo was the screen saver on all of the children’s computers.” Farm Credit of Central Florida Board Member Jenny Black noted, “Ron’s photos have often been on our Christmas card. That is just so typical of Ron and his special interest in what those of us involved in agriculture are doing every day. Not just as farmers and ranchers, but as families involved in the industry. He has been a pillar in the Ag industry, relating well to both Ag and non-ag audiences,” she said. Another director, John Langford, said Ron’s camera “is his trademark. Always at the ready, he is an accomplished portraitist. He has leveraged this skill by sending the photos to the subjects within a day or two, always with a warm personal note. His success has come naturally for him, because he is a true lover of people. We are really going to miss him, both as a professional colleague and as a friend.” Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Executive Director Judi Whitson considers Ron, “Mr. Agriculture and he has been so for many years. Anywhere I go, Ron and his camera are there. He knows everyone in the state, and everyone knows him. He is a walking encyclopedia of people, places and happenings in the agriculture world over past several decades. I have heard it said that he has more photos of Florida farmers’ and ranchers’ kids than their parents do. And probably has a lifetime of shots from some. Although Farm Credit will be well WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
25
Ornamental Gardening in Florida By Ginny Mink Welcome back to the Literary Time Machine as we continue our voyage through ornamental gardening suggestions from the 1920s. Specifically on the agenda this month is Mr. Simpson’s section labeled: Bulbous Native Plants. If you’ve had the pleasure of planting bulbs then you should readily enjoy his recommendations. We shall soon see.
The first plant on his list is the Florida swamp lily, crinum americanum. “A lovely bulbous plant distributed in swamps from Georgia around Florida and to Texas. It sends up a scape which bears a half dozen large, waxy, pure white and very fragrant flowers.”¹ No doubt you have seen them as you drive down Knights Griffin heading towards Polk County. The common adder’s tongue, erythronium americanum, he says is, “A beautiful and much cultivated plant which ranges from Nova Scotia and Minnesota to Arkansas and Northern Florida. Its lustrous leaves are mottled with white and purple-brown, and the large flowers whose segments are recurved are yellow.”¹ This plant isn’t ringing a bell for us. The concept of something being called an adder’s tongue creates a snake and its forked tongue in our mind’s eye. However, once we looked it up, the picture was of a very familiar flower. We’ve included it in the article in case you were wondering. Next is the spider lily, hymenocallis. We happen to really like lilies so this one, which Mr. Simpson describes as, “A genus of tropical or semi-tropical plants with peculiar, satiny flowers whose stamens are united below to form a salver or cup—very curious and beautiful… grows on the most exposed beaches where it is wetted by the spray of any unusually high tide.”¹ Southern Living author, William C. Welch, writes, “The enchanting blossoms of spider lilies seem to appear out of nowhere following late-summer rains. Try these classic bulbs at home to create your own miraculous show.”² And, now that we’ve taken a look at these cool flowers we’d recommend the same. Like we said, we love lilies so we’re thrilled to see so much mention of them here as the next plant on his list is the lilium, or lily. He writes, 26
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
Part 24
“There are probably nearly a hundred of these beautiful and wellbeloved plants scattered over the north temperate zone, two of which grow wild in the upper and middle parts of Florida. L. catesbaei is an inhabitant of the low flatwoods and ranges two-thirds of the way down the state along the east coast, with solitary, erect, spotted flowers while L. carolinianum is a native of the swamps of the south and reaches a height of four feet, its large flowers being delicately scented. Both species are sometimes cultivated. Should be disturbed as little as possible.”¹ Maybe you are as shocked as we were to read about a four foot lily! We’re not sure what to think since the ITIS Taxonomy states the name has a non-accepted status. And, if what we found on the Atlas of Florida Plants’ site is correct, this plant is considered endangered in Florida.³ That’s probably why we’ve never seen it! Interesting how the progression of plant names changes over time. Next on Simpson’s list is the trillium, or wake robin. He says, “T. grandiflorum is widely distributed, being found over most of the eastern United States and into Canada and it is one of our most attractive native plants. It reaches a height of a foot with three large leaves and a fine, white flower that changes to rose. Three other speices, T. sessile, T. hugeri, and T. underwoodi, range south into Florida. All grow in the woods and delight in rich, moist soil, leaf mold being a very suitable dressing for them.”¹ Wondering what leaf mold as a dressing is? We are too! Bill Kohlhaase of Planet Natural writes, “Leaf mold is a step past leaf mulch. It’s made in much the same way as compost, but with little or no nitrogen added to the leaves. Leaves left in contact with the earth and its wealth of beneficial microbes will slowly turn to leaf mold. The speed at which this happens depends mainly on the size of the leaves, shredded or not… Making leaf mold is similar to making compost. Piling leaves in heaps or in bins and cages is about all that’s necessary. Keep the piles uniformly moist. Turning them on occasion is helpful but not necessary… Making leaf mold (or compost for that matter) in raised beds can greatly increase the volume of your soil. Filling a raised bed with shredded leaves in the fall and turning them WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
into the soil as soon as possible is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your contained soil. Covering the bed with plastic over the winter will speed the assimilation process. Leaf mold absorbs five times its weight in water. Turned in to hard and clay soils, it will help make them more friable and root-friendly while maintaining good moisture levels.”⁴ Hope that explains it to ya! Finally we arrive at Wind flower, zephyranthus. Simpson shares, “There are three species of these pretty bulbous plants native to Florida, Z. atamasco, Z. treatiae and Z. simpsoni, the two former being white changing to pink and the latter pale rose. They are mostly natives of low or swampy ground and should not be planted out in a dry place. A few of the bulbs make seed but all can be grown from offsets.” Once again we are looking at a flower whose name has potentially been changed since 1926 when Simpson wrote the book. IFAS says it’s called a rain lily or the atamasco lily. And, it’s considered a threatened species in the Preservation of Native Flora of Florida Act. If you’ve got some you might want to grow them from offsets to help alleviate the threatened stance. Remember that bulbs can sometimes lay dormant for extended periods of time. But, that’s no reason not to experiment with them in your yard. We suggest lilies. We always suggest lilies. Resources: ¹ Simpson, Charles T. (1926). Ornamental Gardening in Florida. Published by the Author; Little River, FL. Printed by J.J. Little and Ives Company, New York. (p. 114-116). ²Welch, W.C. Summer Lilies Bloom Like Magic. Southern Living Magazine. http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/ spider-lily-summer-blooms ³ http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?ID=1058 ⁴Kohlhaase, Bill. (2014). Using Autumn’s Bounty. Planet Natural. https://www.planetnatural.com/leaf-mold/. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
27
Tons of Joke Potential Here: The Suwannee Cooter By Ginny Mink This month we have chosen an imperiled animal for our focus. And, because we are known to have a bit of a sense of humor, this reptile was actually chosen due to its name: Suwannee cooter. Honestly, when we first saw that title we had no idea what kind of reptile deserved such a name travesty. Poor turtle, is what we found! The Gator Woman website revealed, “In the African languages of Bambara and Malink, the word for Turtle is Kuta, from which the word Cooter is derived.” The Suwannee cooter is a species of special concern in the state of Florida. Coming from the family emydidae, this is one of the largest turtles in that grouping reaching up to 17 inches in length. A yellow, backwards “C” can be found in each scale (scute) on its predominantly black upper shell (called the carpace). Its undercarriage, lower shell, or plastron, is typically yellow or light orange with black markings. The cooter’s skin darkens with age but is generally green with yellow stripes. Its eyes are a bluish green and its hind legs are black. In case you’re thinking about doing some looking for Suwannee cooters that description ought to help. Mating season lasts from January to June and consists of some interesting attempts at stimulation on the male’s part. You’ll have to read about that on your own. But, if his attempt is well received, then he gets to consummate the relationship. Otherwise, the girl just swims away, leaving him behind to try his moves on someone else (there are so many wholly inappropriate comments we could make here but we are refraining and just laughing to ourselves). Nesting occurs between March and August and these ladies are particular. Their nesting spaces need to be well lit with adequate drainage. They can lay up to 120 eggs each year and they will do that in up to six clutches. Temperature determines the incubation period but on average it lasts 86 days. Most of the babies will bail when they are born but some might wait until winter is over before they leave the nest. The males are sexually mature between 8 and 10 years while females take a little longer, waiting until 9-13 years old. Because the Suwannee cooter is an aquatic species you’ll rarely see it on land except for the purpose of nesting or basking. Spring-fed rivers, alluvial, and blackwater areas are their preferred habitats. There are some impoundments in rivers that support them as well. Specifically, Lake Rousseau on the Withlacoochee River and Lake Talquin on the Ochlockonee River. Basking surfaces, aquatic vegetation, and moderate currents are the requirements for their presence. They are also found in the Alafia River! Because the Suwannee cooter is on the protected species list, it can no longer be hunted for its meat as was its previous circumstance. They can’t be captured, possessed, or sold either. However, even though the human threat has been reduced, habitat degradation and chemical pollution are still very real problems for them. In fact, the chemicals in the water have caused them to become completely extinct in the Fenholloway River in Jackson County. Road siltation is clouding up river water and decreasing plant photosynthesis thereby initiating a decline in the aquatic plants necessary for Suwannee cooter survival. Red ants in their nests, fish crows, and raccoons are also contributing to their demise. There are some notable things to consider when seeking out Suwannee cooters. The Gator Woman site reveals that they have a tendency to bask themselves in pancake like stacks which is peculiar to their species. And, they can often be found basking on the 28
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
same log as an alligator. Apparently they are only in danger from the alligator if they are young, then they might make a quick snack. And Peter May writes, “The nesting habits of cooters are quite unique, and evidence of failed nests can be easily found along the edges of the dikes most times of year. Females dig three nest holes, and deposit most of the eggs in the center nest, but lay one or two in each of the side (satellite) nests, perhaps for insurance. It doesn’t seem to work nests dug up by predators, probably most frequently raccoons, nearly always have all three chambers exposed.” A Species Action Plan (written by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) for the Suwannee cooter was finalized in 2013. The objectives determined by this research include: maintaining or increasing the current distribution of populations and maintaining or increasing the population which appears to be less than 10,000 statewide. Protecting the important habitats (where they already live and nest) is also part of this plan. This requires identifying and preserving habitats. The natural physiographic and structural integrity of the rivers, streams, and lakes they inhabit must be maintained as well. Additionally, the nesting sites have to be identified and then protected from predators and other potential injurious situations, exotic species must be removed, water conditions monitored and improved, and a ton of other research accomplished in order to boost and/or sustain the current populations and distribution. One way for you to help is by considering becoming a Florida Master Naturalist. The University of Florida offers the program and it might be an interesting way of making a difference in God’s great earth. The link to their program is in our resources section. In the meantime, watch out for cooters! You know you want to laugh. Resources: http://www.gator-woman.com/suwannee.html http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/imperiled/profiles/reptiles/suwannee-cooter/ http://www2.stetson.edu/~pmay/woodruff/turtles.htm http://myfwc.com/media/2738286/Suwannee-Cooter-Species-ActionPlan-Final-Draft.pdf http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/00/09/14/93/00001/vol1no1.pdf Picture provided by: macguys – Shell Station- “Suwanee River Cooters in the Wakulla River near Wakulla Springs”- https://flic.kr/p/4SLJeL WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
29
30
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Florida
Soy Beans By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Fresh Florida soy beans are as delicious as they are nutritious. Soy beans, also called soya beans or edamame, are widely grown in Florida and the Southeast United States, with its peak season in September and October. There are more than 10,000 types of soybeans, ranging from green, yellow, and black-seeded beans. This legume is very important worldwide, particularly in China, Japan, and other Asian countries. Soybeans are currently grown in Brazil, Argentina, India, Paraguay, Canada, and the United States. The United States is the world’s top producer of soybeans, averaging 83 million tons grown on 75 million acres of land. Soybeans are a great source of plant-based protein, having the highest concentration of any plant. Additionally, soybeans contain all ten of the essential amino acids, making it a complete protein, and an excellent meat replacement. Soybeans are commonly consumed in the pod as edamame, roasted as crispy snacks, or made into tofu, tempeh, and miso. In Chinese cuisine, soybeans are used in soy milk, soy sauce, soy flour, fermented black beans, and soybean oil. Soybeans are also often seen in vegetarian style burgers and hot dogs.
NUTRITION PROFILE
Soybeans are probably best known for being rich in fiber and protein, but they are also an excellent source of molybdenum and copper. They are a very good source of manganese, phosphorus, and protein, and a good source of iron, omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fiber, vitamin B2, magnesium, vitamin K and potassium. Additionally, they also contain a wide range of beneficial proteins and phytonutrients that have a variety of health benefits. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of cooked soybeans (172 g) contains 298 calories, 29 g protein, 15 g fat, 17 g carbohydrate, and 10 g of dietary fiber. It also provides 298% of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for molybdenum, 78% for copper, 71% for manganese, 60% for phosphorus, 57% for protein, 49% for iron, 43% for omega-3 fatty acids, and plentiful amounts of other valuable nutrients.
PROTEIN POWER
Protein is the second most abundant substance in the body, after water, and plays an important role on many levels. Adequate protein intake is not typically a concern in the Western diet, but an emphasis on plant-based rather than meat-based proteins is associated with better health and decreased incidence of certain cancers. Soybeans are an excellent source of protein. A one cup serving provides over half of your daily needs. Many important components of the body are comprised of protein, including antibodies that fight infection, hormones that control a variety of physiologic functions, and enzymes that increase the rate of chemical reactions in the body. Protein is also a major source of energy and required for the maintenance and repair of tissues.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
FULL OF FIBER
Fresh Florida soybeans are high in both insoluble and soluble fiber. Insoluble fiber is important in regulating a healthy digestive tract and preventing constipation or diarrhea. Soluble fiber is especially important in its cholesterol reducing abilities, especially that of low density lipoprotein (LDL). 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. As with many other legumes, soybeans contain a significant amount of dietary fiber, which can help with weight loss by helping you stay full with very few calories. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a diet high in fiber may decrease the risk of several types of cancer including colon, rectum, breast, and pancreas. A one cup serving of soybeans provides almost half of your daily fiber requirement.
HOW TO SELECT AND STORE
Choose fresh, young soybeans with firm, deep green pods that are free of bruises and discoloration. Edamame can sometimes be found in the produce section during its peak season, but it is often available in the frozen food section. They are best eaten right away, but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to several days in a tightly sealed plastic bag. Soybeans can also be dried or canned. Dried beans can be stored for up to one year in a cool place, such as a cabinet. Dried soybeans should be soaked for at least a few hours before cooking. Cooked soybeans can be refrigerated for up to three days.
HOW TO ENJOY
Soy can be enjoyed as tempeh, fermented tofu, and soy miso, as well as soy milk products. Young green soybeans can be eaten cooked in the pod. Boil for 5-10 minutes in salted water, then drain and serve for a delicious appetizer. Soy flour can be used in place of some of the wheat flour in recipes for bread, muffins, or other baked goods. Other ways to enjoy soybeans include: • Mix sprouted soybeans into salads or use as toppings for sandwiches. • Combine fresh fava beans with Pecorino cheese and salami • Boil soybeans then blend into a dip with spices and yogurt • Use in place of chickpeas in hummus • Mix into a pasta dish with olive oil and other vegetables • Serve cooked fava beans alongside braised or roasted chicken • Toss cooked fava beans into any vegetable salad for a protein boost • Add cooked soybeans to vegetable stews and soups Enjoy delicious Florida soybeans in their peak season today. Add delicious flavor and extra protein and fiber to any dish, dip, or stew.
SELECTED REFERENCES
http://www.floridata.com http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu http://www.florida-agriculture.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
31
Florida FFA to Induct Five Members to Hall of Fame Five new members will be inducted in the Florida FFA Hall of Fame on September 26. The Hall of Fame inductees in 2016 are: Shirley J. Carte, John C. Cloran, David N. Coile, Richard “Rick” C. Stotler, and Orton E. Yearty. The induction ceremony will take place at the Florida FFA Leadership Training Center near Haines City. The Florida FFA Hall of Fame began in 2007 to pay tribute to those outstanding individuals who have helped make the Florida FFA Association the premier youth leadership organization in the state. “We are proud to honor these wonderful leaders for their commitment and dedication to the Florida FFA over the years,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Their efforts have helped the FFA in our state to better educate students, parents and entire communities about the importance of Florida’s agriculture industry.” Florida FFA Foundation Board of Directors President Bill Hamm said, “These individuals are to be highly commended for their years of service and dedication to the enhancement of agricultural education and FFA.” Some of the contributions of this year’s Florida FFA Hall of Fame inductees are as follows: Shirley J. Carte has not missed a state or national FFA convention since 1983, assisting with registration, judging contests, and coordinating auctions. She has served on the board of directors for the Florida FFA Foundation and the Florida FFA Association, in addition to serving on the Florida and national alumni associations. Shirley has received several FFA awards, including the National FFA Alumni Distinguished Service Award. She was selected to speak at the 2012 national convention’s opening session, where she addressed 60,000 FFA members.
John C. Cloran’s entire agriculture teaching career took place at Apopka Memorial Middle School. He created the Students Teaching Agricultural Related Science (STARS) program, which introduced agriculture into Orange County elementary schools. The STARS program has received 13 Walt Disney Community Service Awards. John coordinated Ag Literacy Day for Apopka high schools and middle schools, where students read to more than 4,000 elementaryage children. John also created an FFA Color Guard at the middle school. David N. Coile taught agriculture at Lake Gibson High School for 25 years. David was Lake Gibson High School’s Teacher of the Year twice, and was named to the Lake Gibson High School Hall of Fame. Through his contacts, the FFA Alumni Association started working with Robert Butler, a well-known painter of Florida outdoor scenes and wildlife, to create the Agricultural Heritage series of six original paintings depicting Florida agriculture in the 1920s. Proceeds from the sales of these prints support FFA awards and scholarships. Richard “Rick” C. Stotler created the first large animal science program in Orange County. West Orange High School housed student animal projects on campus. Rick received West Orange High’s Teacher of the Year Award and the Outstanding Secondary Vocational Education Teacher. He serves as the treasurer for the Florida Angus Association and a board member for the Orange County Cattlemen’s Association. He volunteers for Florida Junior Angus Association shows and sales. Orton E. Yearty taught agriculture in Florida from 1938 to 1974. Orton’s agricultural education program was very active in community service to local farmers. His classes surveyed water lines for irrigation ponds, established grass waterways for drainage, and planted several thousand pine seedlings. Orton received FFA’s Honorary American Farmer Degree and the Florida Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association’s Teacher of Teachers Gold Award. He passed away on June 25, 2000.
Growing with you for 100 years. Farm Credit has been helping growers like you thrive for generations. Let us help deliver a sunny future for you, too. Call us about financing for:
• Land • Lots & homes • Refinancing
• Buildings & fences • Equipment • And much more!
Loans for land, homes & country living
866.245.3637 / FarmCreditCFL.com 32
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
33
34
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Market Watch:
All Dried Up All Natural Snacks
When I visit the many artisan and farmers’ market Florida has to offer, one of my favorite quotes from Albert Einstein comes to mind. “Creativity is seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought.” The vendors at these markets come up with some truly amazing products and different ways to serve food.
One of the vendors at the Lakeland Downtown Farmers’ Curb Market who has taken healthy snack foods to a new level is All Dried Up All Natural Snacks. Melanie and Randy Long started their healthy snacks business out of necessity. “We started the business out of necessity in February 2013,” Melanie said. “I was laid-off from my corporate job and needed immediate income while looking for a job. We started off selling merchandise for dogs and dehydrated fruits and veggie treats.” A friend of the couple suggested they try seasoning some of the veggies for human snacks, so they gave it a shot. “We made a few different varieties, taste tested them and our number one seller was born, ‘Pizza Without a Crust,’ which is a tomato chip.” Randy worked full-time when he and Melanie started their business, so it was Melanie who was doing everything by herself at first. “I shopped for produce, washed, sliced, seasoned, dehydrated, weighed and packaged, in addition to packing for the markets.” They both worked the farmers’ markets circuits on the weekends. “We knew we were onto something successful and three months into the business, my husband took a leap of faith and resigned from his job to focus on building our business.” What makes All Dried Up’s snacks different from other snacks out there on the market is their snacks are made fresh weekly and are free from preservatives, gluten and oil. “They are a healthy alternative and work with most diets,” Long said. “We also do special orders such as vegan options and no salt.” The Long’s dehydrate all their snacks and purchase their product from local farmers in the area. The interesting fact about drying and dehydrating food is that it has filtered into every culture at nearly every moment in time. In ancient times, the sun and wind would dry foods naturally. There is even evidence that has shown Middle Eastern and Oriental cultures have WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
By Libby Hopkins
dried foods as early as 12,000 B.C. The Romans were particularly fond of any dried fruit they could make. During the Middle Ages, structures called “still houses” were created to dry fruits, vegetables and herbs in areas that did not have enough strong sunlight for drying. A fire was used to create the heat needed to dry foods and in some cases smoking them as well. There are also many health benefits for dehydrating food. According to the website, DIY Natural (www.diynatural.com) “As water is removed, taste is deliciously concentrated. The result is a convenient food with a taste that, depending on your personal preference, may be better than the original. Food dehydration requires just one ingredient and that is the food you are drying. The result is 100 percent natural food that will stay tasty and nutritious for many months. Dried foods tend to take less than one sixth of their original storage space and don’t require the ongoing electric drain of a refrigerator or freezer.” The Long’s love being a part for the local farmers’ market circuit and the feedback they get from their customers at the markets. “We love being out in the communities and educating the public about our healthy alternative to unhealthy snacking,” Long said. “There is no greater feeling than being the source for someone struggling to find a healthy snack that is satisfying, tasty and crunchy. Our customers are the best!” Shopping local and keeping things local is very important to the Long’s. “Shopping local is what keeps us in business,” Long said. “We didn’t invent the process of dehydration and know you can buy commercially manufactured products, however, we have perfected the art and want to ensure our customers get the freshest, healthiest, tastiest and purest option brought right to their community.” If you would like to learn more about the products or to see what farmers’ markets that are at each week, you can visit their website at www.alldriedupsnacks.com. If you would like to learn more about the Lakeland Downtown Farmer’ Curb Market, you can visit their website at www.downtownfarmerscurbmarket.org. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
35
Hurricane Hermine And Her Mean Howling Winds Were A Wake Up Call! by John Dicks
Photo Credit: fox13news.com/weather
Well that was no fun! Hurricane Hermine blew through here like she was determined to wreak havoc and get out of town! In addition to way too much more than welcome wind and rain, Hermine birthed a couple of tornadoes in East Hillsborough County, one of which caused some damage, though it was determined to be minor. I suspect, though, that the homeowner disagrees with that assessment.
• Stock at least one gallon of water per person per day for three days. • Buy nonperishable and packaged foods that require little or no cooking. If the power goes out, food in the refrigerator may spoil • Buy flashlights and extra batteries • Make sure you have a first-aid kit handy
Hermine became the first official hurricane to hit Florida in 11 years. Way back in October 2005, Wilma delivered her own nasty punch. Since then our state has swelled by more than 2,000,000 new residents and despite all the warnings, most simply can’t conceive of the damage that a named storm can cause to us so many miles away from Florida’s shores.
• Have all emergency numbers available in case utilities go out
At least that’s true until you have to hunker down through a hurricane with its eye set on nearby soil.
• Stock up on some canned or dried provisions and bottled water
Power was out for hours in many Hillsborough County homes. Further north, in the communities of Homosassa and Crystal River, where Hermine chose to be particularly ravishing, homeowners were reporting floodwater as high as three feet into their homes. I spoke with one guy who swore it was up to the window of his truck sitting in his driveway!
• Get extra prescriptions and medications for your family as well as spare eyeglasses, hearing aids and batteries
In Tallahasee where the storm’s track made it seem like Hermine was especially headed, an estimated more than 100,000 residents lost their power. Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for 51 counties and poised some 6,000 National Guardsmen to mobilize for the storm’s aftermath The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) monitors and reports to the public on major storms through its Extension Disaster Education Network. During the storm it released a reminder that it was not too late to prepare for the worst. Fortunately, most of us have heeded the advice and yet, really, never had to use it. For any of those 2,000,000 newcomers to Florida, here’s the tips that you can use to plan for our next big stormy adventure.
• Get a battery-operated radio so that you can keep abreast of updates • Fill up your car with gas before the lines get too long
• Keep readily available, even in summer, some warm, protective clothing • Keep in a dry, safe place your Important papers, such as driver’s license, insurance policies and property inventory Will we get any more major storms before the official Hurricane Season ends in November? Of course that’s anyone’s guess, but I suppose we can take some solace in noting that things have been worse in the Pacific. While Hermine, with her mean and howling winds screamed through messing with us, at the same time Hawaii was being threatened by Hurricane Lester and dodging the storms of Madeline. I suppose we should be thankful that we were battling through only the “H” of our alphabet while the Hawaiians were fighting through “M”!
John Dicks is both a lawyer and a farmer. He and his family own a blueberry farm and have agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!” John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his Law Degree from Florida State University. He and his wife, Sharon, live in Plant City, where he served nine years as City Commissioner, including three years as Mayor. 36
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Cattle • Truck Farming • Citrus • Game Hunting
1401 Sam Keen Road Lake, Wales, FL 33853 863.692.1013 We Support Agriculture.
See Our Reviews on WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
IIN THEFIELD MAGAZINE NTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
eptember 2016 SSeptember 2016
37 37
Recipes Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Mexican Pizza
Chef Justin Timineri
Ingredients
1 whole-wheat pizza crust, baked and ready to be topped 1/2 cup salsa 1 cup fresh Florida corn kernels 1 cup Florida avocado, diced
1 cup fresh Florida tomatoes, diced 2 cups jack cheese, grated 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Evenly distribute the salsa over the cooked whole-wheat pizza dough. Top the pizza with the corn, avocado, tomatoes and cheese. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until bubbly. Let cool slightly. Garnish with fresh cilantro.
Florida Sweet Corn Tomato and Black Bean Pasta INGREDIENTS 3 ears fresh Florida sweet corn, kernels cut off the cob 1 pound pasta (corkscrew), cooked as directed on package, drained and cooled under running water 1 can cooked black beans (15 ounces), drained and rinsed 2 cups fresh Florida tomato, diced 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, rinsed and chopped plus more for garnish
1/2 cup half-and-half 4 cloves fresh garlic, peeled and minced 1 teaspoon cumin, plus more to taste 1 teaspoon chili powder, plus more to taste 1 lime, juiced 1 teaspoon vegetable or olive oil sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
Preheat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add vegetable or olive oil to the preheated sauté pan. Add the corn kernels and cook them for 2 to 4 minutes until they start to get some color. Add the black beans, garlic and diced tomato to the sauté pan. Cook ingredients for about 3 minutes until the tomatoes soften and release juices. Add the cumin, chili powder, lime juice and half-and-half.
38
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
Continue to cook ingredients and bring to a boil. Add the cooked pasta and cilantro. Continue to cook ingredients until the pasta is heated throughout and the sauce has started to slightly stick to the pasta. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Remove pasta from heat and serve hot. Garnish with any extra fresh cilantro. WWW. INTTHE HE IELD MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW. IN FFIELD M
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
39
Polk County Cattlewomen Spotlight:
Ellen Bryan By Leslie Buchanon
As the world’s population continues to increase and rural areas decrease, the need for clubs, organizations, and groups that advocate and promote agricultural commodities is at an all-time high. With much misinformation in the media and online about agriculture, there is also a need for leaders to rise up from these groups to promote their respective industries and educate consumers. Polk County is fortunate to have an organization whose sole purpose is to promote the beef cattle industry. The Polk County CattleWomen, Inc. (PCCW) is an organization that is committed to educating consumers, both young and old, about the various aspects of the beef industry. This includes the importance of including beef in a heart-healthy diet, and the best management practices cattlemen and cattlewomen practice on a daily basis to ensure the sustainability of Florida’s unique environment. This month, we meet Ms. Ellen Irene Bryan, a member of the PCCW, who has taken the old adage “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” to heart. Ms. Ellen Irene Johnson Bryan was born and raised by her grandparents in Lakeland, Florida and affectionately refers to herself as “a railroad kid.” After briefly living in Paola, Florida where she attended elementary school, her grandparents retired and returned to Lakeland, where she continues to live today. At the tender age of 15, Ellen dropped out of school and married Thomas C. Bryan. Three days after their marriage, her husband’s family purchased Ward’s Dairy. This was Ellen’s introduction into the cattle industry as she worked helping to run the dairy, while she and her husband began their own beef cattle operation. Throughout her 40
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
time working at the dairy, Tom and Ellen added three children to their family, Thomas C. Bryan II, Virginia “Ginger” Bryan Young, and Julie Bryan Harter. By the age of 19, Ellen was a 10th grade dropout and the mother of three. Ellen tackled and passed the GED test, and soon after attended Polk Community College where she earned an Associate of Arts degree. Her determination continued as she completed her Bachelor’s degree at Florida Southern College in Elementary and Adult Education, and a Master’s Degree at the University of South Florida in Elementary Education and Educational Leadership. Ellen worked as an educator in Polk County for 40 years, with 14 of those years as a Curriculum Specialist training teachers. She also was an adjunct professor at Florida Southern College and the University of South Florida. Ellen retired from education in 2008, but soon realized, as most teachers do - teaching is a passion, not just a job. Ellen wanted to continue utilizing her teaching skills after her retirement. In 2009, she joined the PCCW and was given the opportunity to put her teaching skills to good use promoting the beef cattle industry, an industry that had brought her much joy throughout her adult life. She jumped in feet-first by accepting the Chairman position of the Education Committee. As Chairman, Ellen has written and submitted many Florida Ag in the Classroom (FAITC) grants. Of her submissions over the last four years, three grants were given approval and funded. In 2012, her grant entitled “The Beef Cow is the Winner” was quite an undertaking. A major component of the grant included creating WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
a large plywood Brahman bull with explicit questions about beef cattle. After drawing, cutting out, then air brushing the bull, “Ivan the Brahman Bull” was born. On his hip, Ivan proudly wears the brand of Mr. and Mrs. Cary Lightsey, who purchased this honor during an auction at a Polk County Cattlemen’s dinner. Basic beef questions were hung from hooks placed on Ivan’s side. There are two different levels of questions used with Ivan ranging from Pre-k – 4th grade, and 5th grade – adult. Another component of the grant was “Beef Cows Give Us” masks, providing students with a cartoon cow face to cut out and color. On the reverse side are pictures of various objects made from beef by-products. Ivan and Ms. Ellen have been spotted at many events such as, ranch rodeos, AgriFest, Farm Fair at Tenoroc High School, and local elementary schools, just to name a few. As her enthusiasm grew for promoting the beef industry, Ellen wrote another FAITC grant in 2014 called the “A, B, C’s of Beef Cattle Alphabet.” These 11” x 17” coloring posters were designed to teach young children about the various characteristics and components of the beef cattle industry using each letter of the alphabet with a line drawing depicting that object or person for the children to color. To follow-up this great achievement, Ellen wrote yet another FAITC grant to accompany the A, B, C’s of Beef Cattle, named the “A, B, C’s of Beef Cattle By-Products.” This By-Products Facts Poster was designed for 4th grade students to receive at AgriFest to teach students and adults about the hundreds of various industrial, household, and health and beauty items created using beef by-products. In 2016, Ellen was selected by the PCCW as the Polk County CattleWoman of the Year, and later was chosen as a finalist for the Florida CattleWoman of the Year award that was given out at the Florida Cattlemen’s Convention this past summer. With a worldwide population that is expected to reach 9 billion by the year 2050, it is more important than ever for agricultural advocates to make their voices heard! Ellen shows no signs of letting retirement slow her down. She has a few other grant ideas up her sleeve that she will likely unveil throughout the next few years. If you would like to invite Ms. Ellen and Ivan to your event, or if you would like more information about the coloring or facts posters and PCCW meetings, please contact the PCCW at poco.cattlewomen@yahoo.com. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
41
By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff
Special Operations Update
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Agriculture Unit is among several sections and specialty units within the Special Operations Division. Special Operations includes the Bureau of Support Operations, Emergency Operations, and the Bureau of Support Services. Sections of these bureaus include Animal Control, Emergency Communications, and Crisis related functions. The Agriculture Crimes Unit is among other units within the Bureau of Support Operations. Special Operations is under the command of Major Rick Wright a 26-year veteran with the PCSO. Major Wright was assigned to Special Operations upon his promotion to Major in May 2016. Major Wright brings a wide variety of law enforcement experience to Special Operations having served in patrol, canine, training, criminal investigations, and school safety. 42
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
Major Wright
Major Wright is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s 123rd Administrative Officers’ Course and a graduate of Florida State University’s Certified Public Manager program. Major Wright encapsulates the agency’s mission of professionalism having completed his education with undergraduate and Masters’ degrees, and he has earned a DoctorWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
ate of Philosophy making his experience and education as diverse as the Division he now commands. And he is no stranger to the agriculture community. One of his family’s passions is barrel racing and his children are active participants in local competitions. Major Wright understands the need for families to engage in the ample resources Polk County has to offer within its agriculture community and is committed to ensuring our property owners, farmers, and cattle owners know that the PCSO is working to keep their investments safe. And while our agriculture community isn’t immune to crime, it is important to note, our Ag deputies work to ensure criminal activity is reported quickly, cases investigated thoroughly, and the community is made aware of incidents of crime in an attempt to prevent and deter other potential incidents.
In fact, everyone can help. For example, our Ag deputies are currently conducting a Grand Theft investigation. Sometime between June 3 and June 6, 2016, unknown suspect(s) removed a trailer mounted grill belonging to the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association. At the time of the theft, the grill was located at the W.H. Stuart Center, 1702 Highway 17 South in Bartow.
After seeing the Crime Stopper bulletin posted on the PCSO social media site, a concerned citizen in Bradenton Florida contacted the PCSO to report the grill was at a local pawn shop – the grill has since been returned. Working with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation remains ongoing. We continue to seek information about this case.
ANYONE WITH INFORMATION WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IS ASKED TO CALL HEARTLAND CRIME STOPPERS AT 1-800-226-TIPS or LOG ONTO www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com. ANONYMITY IS GUARANTEED!
iPhone users can download a free tip submit app to anonymously report crime. To install this free app, search for “TipSoft” or “TipSubmit” on the Apple App Store. ** The PCSO Ag Unit can be reached at 863.534.7205.
813-767-4703 301 South Collins Street, Suite 101, Plant City, Florida 33563
•
P ortrait P h o tograp h er Spe c ializ ing in H igh Sc hool Se niors
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
•
September 2016
43
Naturally A Closer Look Amazing Activities
by Sean Green
Basic Wooden Lucet A Lucet is an ancient tool used for making cord. It is thought to date back to the Viking period but is known to have been used throughout the Medieval period and into the Renaissance period. Lucets were historically made of a variety of materials including ivory, bone, antler, various metals, and wood. Many Lucets were quite ornate, while others were plain and functional sometimes, simply a trident shaped twig.
Materials: • Wooden Cooking Fork (used is great for color) • Cutting Tool (Small Saw, Dremel) • Drilling Tool (Small Drill, Dremel) • Sand Paper Directions:
• Cut the center tine out of the wooden fork • Drill a hole just under the fork tines. • Sand tines round and smooth. Making cord with the Lucet
There are apparently many ways to use a Lucet to make cord, some methods use more than one cord, while others provide for the addition of beads. According to some sources, traditional square cords made with this tool could be cut without unraveling but I have not yet succeeded in making a cord that does not unravel (without tying it off). The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is an organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe and has posted instructions for a “Turning Method” of creating cord, this is the method I used to test the Lucet that was made in this activity and maybe a good resource to begin the basics of making cords with the Lucet. The URLfor the site is: http://kws.atlantia. sca.org/photos/lucet/ 44
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
WWW. ININTTHE FFIELD M WWW. HE IELD MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
A Closer Look
by Sean Green
A Fowl Smell Repels Mos Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) Florida is home to about 50 native snakes, more snakes than any other state in the Southeast United States. Of the snakes that can be found in Florida, there are only six that are venomous and of those six, only four that will be found in central Florida. This month, we’re featuring one of the most common venomous snakes of Florida; Agkistrodon piscivorus, known as the “cottonmouth” to some and the “water moccasin” to others. This particular snake is unique because it is the only semi-aquatic pit viper in the world. Ancient legends of the indigenous people of the Southeast Woodland culture honor this snake with descriptions of its characteristics and how they came to be. This beautiful snake is more often misunderstood than aggressive and unfortunately, each year, this snake and countless harmless water snakes are killed out of fear. With a closer look, we can quickly recognize this snake and avoid it rather than kill it; or, if you share my fascination for this animal, observe it with respect and admiration. Most venomous snakes in Florida are Crotalinae (pit vipers), with the exception of the coral snake. Pit vipers are characterized by a heat sensing “pit” that is set between their eye and nostril. The pit is actually just the external opening to an internal organ that is capable of detecting infrared radiation. Not all snakes that have pits are venomous, some Boas and Pythons have several heat sensing pits on their head, but are less evolved that those of the pit vipers. So the “pit” part is how the snake detects differences in temperature, not only to stalk food, but also to find a place to regulate body temperature, remember they are cold blooded and completely reliant on their environment for metabolism. You may not believe it, but Florida can at times get too hot for snakes, and snakes will search for a cool place to rest. The pits on a cotton mouth give it the advantage of being able to find the coolest spot in the area to rest through the heat of the day. Although the cottonmouth will emerge in the daytime to bask in the sunlight, or coil in the shade near water, it actually hunts at night when the ambient temperature cools and the warmth of prey are easier to detect from the ambient temperature. Cottonmouth will often hunt in shallow bodies of water that have an abundance of trapped fish and tadpoles to choose from as well as lie in wait for small mammals to seek a quick drink away from the larger predators it could expect from deeper bodies of water. The “viper” part of the distinction is the snakes fang structure. All vipers have long hollow fangs that are effective in deep penetration and delivery of venom. When not in use, the fangs can fold back against the roof of the mouth. The bite of a pit viper is generally more painful than the bite of other snakes such as the cobra or coral snake. The pain is not so much because of the size of the fang as it is the type of venom. The venom of pit vipers is a haemotoxic, technically meaning it destroys the red blood cells, but in the process of doing so, also destroys the walls of the blood vessels, which in turn causes organ and tissue damage, necrosis (similar to a brown recluse bite), and blood loss from cardiovascular damage. The venom of pit vipers helps compensate for the snake’s poor digestive system, the venom itself begins to break down tissue before the snake actually begins its meal. The brown recluse spider is an example of an insect that has a haemotoxic venom. The cottonmouth can choose when and how much venom to inject. Animals practice conservation of energy and resources, and all snakes have a limited supply of venom at its disposal. It will not likely waste the venom on small prey such as a lizard or small fish. The shape of the fangs is often enough to secure a meal without resorting to wasting precious venom. The genus name Agkistrodon comes from the Greek ancistro (hooked) and odon (tooth), the species name piscivorus comes from the Latin piscis (fish) and voro (to eat), put it together and we have a “hooked tooth fish eater.” Now I can tell you from personal experience that once this snake has prey in its clutch, it is very difficult to remove the prey from its mouth, no venom needed. This snake will release venom for larger prey or defense and the amount released is determined by the size of the snake vs the size of the threat or prey, had I pushed the issue and caused a perceived threat to the snake’s food supply, I suspect a strike to my hand would have included a good dose of venom. Likewise, the cotWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
tonmouth has many large predators to contend with such as hawks, bobcat, tortoise, and more. One of these larger predators (humans included) would be reasonable cause to release the venom needed for an attempted defense, even if the snake lost its life, the necrotic components of the venom will frequently result in the predator losing its life days later from organ or muscle necrosis or just bleeding out from the anticoagulant properties of the venom. Cottonmouth are live born from mid-August to mid-September and you may see a mother surrounded by her young. Unlike other snakes, the female cotton mouth will defend the babies through their first shedding a week or two after birth. If you are lucky, you will get to see female aggregation, this is when several pregnant or attending females band together in one spot to guard the community of young snakes, a sight you would not expect to see from snakes that are generally independent. During this time, female snakes are less likely to attack a prey species and display more warning behaviors than actual attacks until all the young, not just their own, have dispersed. Although Florida does not ever get very cold, in northern states, the cottonmouth will need to hibernate for several months and does so in a hibernacula, which is an ideal location in which snakes will gather together for hibernation. Hibernacula can be under a pile of wood, or in a hole left by decaying roots. In Florida we are not so likely to see several snakes gathered in one hibernacula because when we do have a freeze, it is only for a short duration and our snakes may not need to hibernate at all. There are three species of cottonmouth in North America, two of which can be found in central Florida. The most abundant species in Florida is the Florida Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti). This species is found throughout all of Florida including the barrier islands, and in parts of southern Georgia. A.p conanti will flourish in cypress flats, prairies, and wet pine palmetto. The Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus) is the largest of the genus commonly exceed 80 cm (31 in) in length. This is the most aquatic of all the species and is usually found in consistently wet areas such as creeks, streams, marshes, swamps and the shores of ponds and lakes. Though it favors fresh water, it is known to inhabit brackish and salt water. Look for this species in pine flatwoods, riparian forests, prairies, and occasionally dune and beach areas. Some points to remember when identifying venomous water snakes from non-venomous water snakes are as follows: water snakes generally flee when threatened, cottonmouth will stand it’s ground and display the white interior of its mouth. Cottonmouth vibrate their tail when threatened, harmless water snakes do not. Cotton Mouth have narrow slit pupils, harmless water snakes have round pupils. When swimming, cottonmouth have their entire body floating on top of the water, harmless water snakes will swim with only their head above the water line. Florida is a great place to observe an abundance of snakes and it need not be dangerous. Keep in mind that there are only a handful of venomous snakes in Florida and the few we have are pretty easily identified. I sincerely hope this month’s article will inspire you to get out in nature and explore the beautiful environment we live in and revere the amazing animals we are blessed with in our tropic home. Take the time to take a closer look and I hope you will share my wonder for the animals with which we share our world.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
45
Classifieds
Tel: 813.759.6909 Info@inthefieldmagazine.com HUSTLER RAPTOR
ANIMALS & NEEDS ANIMAL & BIRDCAGES
Equipment serving the fur bearing animal & exotic bird industry! Cages built to order. Wire by roll or foot. (813) 752-2230. Call Don Ammerman. www.ammermans.com July 17, 2016, Nov. 27, 2016
CHICKEN MANURE FOR SALE
42” cut, 21 hp Kohler engine. 3 year warranty. $2,799 Call Alvie (813) 759-8722
FOR RENT
Millcreek Pine Bark Row Mullcher. For blueberry farms, six yard, PTO drive need at least a 30hp tractor. Call 863-604-2526 for rental details.
Dry and available IMMEDIATELY! Call Tim Ford (863) 439-3232
Zero Turn Mower 52” cut, 23hp. Kohler engine, 3 year warranty. $2,999 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
BRAND NEW BUSH HOG ES2052 zero turn mower. Price reduced from $5,425 to $5,000 Call Alvie 813-750-8722
60” cut price was $10,356 buy now for $8,800. Call Alvie 813-759-8722
METAL ROOFING
Thousands of 8ft. & 10ft. sheets. In Stock. Prices from $6 and up. Custom lengths available. 813-752-7088 ask for Ferris.
ALUMINUM
We have all your aluminum needs! Screen Room, carports & awnings. Call Blake (813) 752-3378
PRODUCE FRESH PRODUCE 1976 INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER 674
2wd, very good condition. $8,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
HESSTON 3710 TEDDER
WINDOW SCREENS
We make window screens of all sizes available in different frame colors. Call Ted(813) 752-3378
CABINETS
All wood kitchen cabinets. All wood vanities. Granite counter tops. Custom made to your size. Call Blake 813-752-3378
T-111
4X8 sheets 4” on center. $26.95 Call Blake 813-752-3378
Priced to sale. Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FORD 6700 TRACTOR
$3,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722 ROSSI CADDY 8 HAY RAKE Call Alvie 813-759-8722
8 FOOT BOX BLADE Used one time $850.00 Call 813-523-7985
FOR SALE
MOBILE HOME TUBS
Metal brand new in bo 54” Mobile Home Tubs Call Ted (813) 752-3378 $199.00
CALL FOR A WINDOW QUOTE. We are a Simonton/MI Windows dealer. Our windows are energy star, lifetime warranty. Call Broke & Poor 813-752-3378
FARM EQUIPMENT
KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES
Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the BIG Box STORES! Call Today! Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Many standard sizes in stock. Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
JOBS
FMC 352
GROVE EQUIPMENT SERVICE
Air Blast Sprayer. Good condition. $3,750.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
7X15 LAWN TRAILER
Used Lawn Trailer with aluminum plate tool box. 5ft tongue & heavy duty gate. $1,650 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
2015 MAHINDRA EMAX TRACTOR 4wd with 60” mid mount mower. 39 hours, warranty. $9,950 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
BRAND NEW HUSTLER RAPTOR
BRAND NEW HUSTLER X1
BUILDING SUPPLIES
46
LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES
Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17. Come out and see us!
REAL ESTATE PROPERTY AVAILABLE
10 - 30 acres of property available for farming in Pasco County. Call Nick 813-967-3858
METAL WAREHOUSE
3200 sq. ft. Metal warehouse for lease. Located in E. Bartow off of highway 60. For more information call 863-221-0986
SERVICES CALLER ON HOLD
A low cost service that enables you to communicate important information about your business to customers while they are on hold. No monthly payments or annual payments. Call today and ask for Al (813) 763-2220
MISC. FREE
Wooden Shipping Pallets All sizes! Call Alvie 813-759-8722
RUBBER MULCH
is looking for agriculture/tractor mechanics All Colors, buy 10 bags, get 1 FREE! at both the Bartow & Plant City locations. Hav- $8.99 a bag. Call Ted (813) 752-3378 ing own tools is a plus. Pay based on skill and experience. Call Bartow at 863-537-1345 or HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? Plant City at 813-759-8722 Call us today! 813-759-6909 or email us: info@inthefieldmagazine.com Now Hiring Experienced Barn Builders”. Let us help you get rid of it!
813-754-1766
HELP WANTED
Agricultural parts person needed. Computer skills a must, experience a plus. Apply @ Grove Equipment Service in Plant City. Ask for Alvie 813-759-8722
September 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
47
48
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
September 2016
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM