In The Field magazine Hillsborough edition

Letter from the Editor

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Yes, that’s right, it’s fair season!! The season kicks off with the Polk County Youth Fair, for Polk County youth, held January 21 – 27. Quickly following is the Florida State Fair, held February 9 - 20. On the heels of the State Fair is the Florida Strawberry Festival, starting on March 2 and ending on March 12. And while not technically a fair, Polk County youth will once again have the spotlight at the Central Florida Youth in Agriculture show held March 22 – 25.

I encourage you to attend one, or all of these events. They showcase the hard work the youth put into a variety of projects, and they will definitely welcome the support.

We are in the middle of the first month of a new year. How are those resolutions going? I chose to make the same ones as 2022. None. It keeps me from being disappointed when I break them. I tend to lean toward things like, no more sweets. How in the world I think that is attainable is just beyond me. Eat healthier? More vegetables? Try as I might, I fail. If you made a resolution, I wish you great success.

My wish for each of you is that you have a happy, healthy 2023.

Until Next Month

Sarah Holt

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

STAFF

Publisher/Photography

Karen Berry

Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher

Sarah Holt

Editor

Patsy Berry Sales

Karen Berry

Sarah Holt

Melissa Nichols

George Domedion

Creative Director/Illustrator

Juan Alvarez

Photography Karen Berry Staff Writers

Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak

Sean Green

Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks

Social Media Victoria Saunders

In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Grower’s Association.

Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909

Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.

Published by Berry Publications, Inc.

With every generation, we get better at protecting our environment.

Reclamation ecologists like Ashlee work to return mined lands to productive use as wildlife habitats, public parks and more—so future generations can enjoy these lands for years to come.

HAPP NEW YEAR!

COUNTY -Dennis Carlton Jr. - President

Greetings,

Happy New Year to each of you and your families! I sincerely hope 2023 is both a joyful and rewarding year for all of you.

The weather that we experienced on Christmas Eve and Day was a challenge, but our growers rose to that challenge and protected their crops. Dealing with a freeze is difficult, but just one of the many trials our producers face throughout the season.

As we begin this New Year, I would like to recognize and express my appreciation to our Executive Director Kaylee Poppell, our Board of Directors, our Women’s Leadership group and the many volunteers who help “The Voice of Agriculture” be heard on a continuing basis. That is a critical effort that helps generate awareness and education of our industry and its importance to each of us on a daily basis – a need that continues to grow as our population increases globally.

I am especially appreciative of our board efforts with respect to our elected officials at all levels, particularly at the county level with our Board of County Commissioners. It is vital that those elected representatives both understand and recognize the impact of their actions on our farmers and ranchers today and into the future. This advocacy is an ongoing need that is also assisted through our overall educational initiatives aimed at reaching all residents of Hillsborough County at every age level.

Simply put, we must continue our efforts to help the public and our elected officials understand the vital need for our farmers and ranchers to grow and prosper. Let me be clear that this is not in any manner an effort to secure special treatment. It is just recognition of our industry’s role and importance to us all and the ability to meet those needs in a sustainable manner.

This effort is not limited to Hillsborough County Farm Bureau. Our state and national colleagues are also involved. American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall noted in a recent message, action on key industry efforts generated more than 38,000 engagements –“from comments to federal agencies to emails to lawmakers.” That is substantial, and I am very pleased for the actions we have taken in that regard.

I ask that those of you who are not Hillsborough County Farm Bureau members, please consider joining and help strengthen our “Voice” as we strive to tell the story of agriculture and its importance to us all. This is a never-ending need. Please visit www.hcfarmbureau.org for more information on membership benefits and volunteer opportunities.

Again, Happy New Year and Thank you,

Dennis Carlton Jr.

Dennis Carlton Jr. - President

Board of Directors

Dennis Carlton Jr, President; Carl Bauman, Vice-President; Tony Lopez, Treasurer; Madison Astin Salter, Secretary; Tiffany D. Randall, Jake Cremer, Brittany Coleman, Travis Council, Drew Futch, Rep. Lawrence McClure, Sammi Wilcox, Michelle Williamson, Casey Runkles, Gayle Yanes

HILLSBOROUGH

r E d S p E ci ES The Florida Bonneted Bat

E ndang

By Libby Hopkins

The Florida Bonneted Bat or Eumops Floridanus as it’s known by its scientific name, is Florida’s largest bat and thought to be the rarest bat in the world.

Florida bonneted bat weighs between 34 and 47 grams and can be distinguished from other bats by its large size, tail that extends past the uropatagium (tail membrane) and ears that join at the base.

Female Florida bonneted bats will give birth to at least one pup per year, but evidence suggests that they may give birth multiple times each year.

The Florida bonneted bat was recognized as a distinct species in 2004, and listed as “Endangered” under the USFWS Endangered Species Act in 2013.

Until recently, it was classified as a subspecies of Wagner’s bonneted bat (Eumops glaucinus). It is endemic to southern Florida in the United States. It occurs in several counties, including Charlotte, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, and Polk. Florida bonneted bats are more likely to be detected in agricultural areas, as well as areas that have a high mean annual rainfall.

This species has one of the smallest geographical distributions of any New World bat. It has been called “one of the most critically endangered mammal species in North America”

The earliest bonneted bat fossil was discovered in 1922 in Melbourne, Florida. The fossil consisted of a preserved jawbone that dated back to the Pleistocene; its similarity to genera Eumops and Molossus was noted, but it was initially placed into a new genus, Molossides, due to what appeared to be a unique dental formula. The fossil was reclassified into the genus Eumops in 1963 on the belief that the original fossil did not show a bat with a single lower incisor, but rather the fossil jaw was missing an incisor and the species actually had two lower incisors.

In the following years, there was evidence of a breeding population in Florida, which refuted ideas that they were only occasionally transported in from Cuba. In 1971, the bonneted bat was reclassified as a well-marked subspecies of Eumops glaucinus, identified as Eumops glaucinus floridanus. This classification was maintained until 2004, when morphological analyses showed that the bonneted bat was distinct from other subpopulations of Eumops glaucinus in its skull, body mass, and forearm length. The new classification elevated the bonneted bat to its own species, Eumops floridanus.

The bat roosts single or colonially and may form harems. Many observed roosts have a strong female bias, with one harem containing 20 adult females and only one adult male. Roosts usually have one dominant male that can be identified from an open gular gland, the largest body mass, and the greatest testes length. Harems are maintained throughout the year, which are in contrast to other bats of the eastern US where social groupings are seasonally variable.

The Florida bonneted bat was once believed to be common along Florida’s eastern coast. Observations of it declined in the 1960s and 1970s, and in 1980, it was believed to be extinct. Threats to this species include the present and future degradation of its habitat, its small population size, restricted range and small number of colonies, low fecundity, and relative isolation.

Climate change and resulting sea-level rise is expected to result in further loss of its roosting and foraging habitat. Since its population is very small, predicted changes in weather however, will possibly affect the endangered species even more.

A live-bonneted bat was first recorded in Florida in 1936, from an individual collected from a high school in North Miami. At the time, it was identified as a Eumops glaucinus specimen, and it was hypothesized that a fruit steamer had introduced it accidentally from Cuba.

Paul DiMare

Tomato Industry Leader – Passes Away

Paul J. DiMare, Sr., the longtime leader of DiMare Fresh, has passed away. He was. 81.

Considered an icon of the tomato industry, DiMare died December 20 after leading his family company to become the largest freshmarket tomato grower in the U.S. since moving to Florida in 1964, DiMare earned the nickname of “Mr. Tomato.”

He is survived by his wife, Swanee; sons Anthony, Paul Jr., Scott,

Our condolences to the DiMare family.

Paul DiMare in 2013 Photo: Doug Ohlemeier

Fresh Citrus from Florida!

Blueberries

4/2.5 lb. pkgs Was $49.45 ...... NOW $45.45

Sliced Apples 4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $35.95

Spiced Apple Slices (w/cinnamon sugar) ..... 4/3 lb. pkgs .......... $39.95

Blackberries 4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $80.45

Cranberries - Whole 6/20 oz. pkgs ....... $26.95

Mango - Chunks

4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $38.95

Mixed Fruit - Apples, sweet cherries, peaches, strawberries and pineapples 4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $50.45

Mixed Melons

4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $38.95

Berry Patch Fruit Mix - Strawberries, blueberries and red raspberries 4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $50.45

Pineapple Chunks

4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $38.45

Red Tart Cherries 4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $39.45

Sliced Strawberries

4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $46.95

Tropical Fruit Mix - Peaches, mangos, pineapple & strawberry halves 4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $50.45

Whole Strawberries

4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $46.95

Rhubarb Chunks 4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $41.95

Peach Slices 4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $50.45

Farmland Meats

Black Angus Ground Chuck Patties 10 lbs. (30-1/3 lb. patties) ........ $99.95

Dixie Skillet Pattie Sausage 10 lbs. (2 oz. patties) (1/10 lb. pkg) ......... $75.45

Jones Farm Sausage Links 10 lbs. (30-1/3 lb. links) .............. $71.95

Black Angus Beef Franks 10 lbs. (1/10 lb. pkg)............................ $55.95

KC Wild Wings 3 lb. bag (12-4 oz. shanks)

Pork Ribeye Steaks 4.3 lbs. (7-10 oz. steaks) (raw) Individually sealed for use. Fresh frozen, tender and juicy!”

Mild Cheddar Cheese ............... 3 lbs. (6/8 oz. pkgs) ................. $24.45

Sharp Cheddar Cheese

lbs. (6/8 oz. pkgs)

Stir Fry Vegetables - broccoli, shoestring carrots, onions, celery, red peppers and pea pods 6/2 lb. pkgs Was $42.45 ...... NOW $39.45

Broccoli Florets 6/2 lb. pkgs .......... $37.95

Brussels Sprouts 4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $31.45

Cauliflower 6/2 lb. pkgs ......... $36.95

Corn-Yellow Cut ............................................. 6/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $42.95

Super Sweet White Corn 6/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $42.95

Fajita Mixed Vegetables - onion and green, red and yellow pepper strips 6/2 lb. pkgs ......... $40.95

Baby Lima Beans ............................................ 4/2.5 lb. pkgs ...... $39.95

Mixed Vegetables - peas, corn, green beans, carrots and lima beans 6/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $42.95

Mushrooms - Sliced 4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $33.45

Pepper and Onion Variety Pack....................... 4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $32.95

Green Beans - Cut 6/2 lb. pkgs .......... $34.95

Green Garden Peas 6/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $45.95

Hashbrowns - Shredded 6/3 lb. pkgs ......... $49.95

Stew Vegetables - peas, corn, green beans, carrots and lima beans 4/2.5 lb. pkgs ....... $29.95

Sweet Potato - Diced 6/2 lb. pkgs .......... $32.95

EXTENSION ANNOUNCES TWO, NEW AGENTS

By Jim Frankowiak

Hillsborough County Extension In partnership with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has announced the addition of two new agents to its staff. The new staff members are 4-H Agent Amber Norris and Residential Horticulture Agent Tiare “Tia” Silvasy.

Norris, most recently an assistant principal at Brooker Elementary in Brandon, has a lifelong relationship with 4-H, as both an active member and volunteer. She officially joined 4-H as an 8-year-old competing in public speaking and various horsemanship events. Norris was a member of the winning 4-H State Horse Judging competition where she won the high point oral reasons honor.

Born in Plant City and raised in the Lithia area, Norris graduated from Brandon High School where she was FFA President her senior year. Norris received her undergraduate degree in elementary education and masters in educational leadership, both from the University of South Florida.

Norris and her husband Douglas, a site manager for Harsco Minerals, will celebrate their 35th anniversary in February. They have two children: Kaitlin Storey, an ICU

nurse in Plant City, and Taylor, who works for Ring Power in field service. Both were involved in 4-H and FFA, where they competed in various events with production livestock. Grandson Emmitt Storey is continuing the family tradition as a member of 4-H.

“This new opportunity with Extension will enable me to continue my relationship with 4-H, fulfilling a dream to continue to foster social and emotional learning,” she said. “I hope to help grow the number of 4-H clubs and members in the county, giving back and making a difference just as the organization has done for me.”

Silvasy is the new Residential Horticulture/Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator Extension Agent. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and grew up on her grandparent’s family farm. “They were growing organic before organic was even a thing,” said Silvasy. “I always wanted to be a farmer, but ended up in academia where I have been involved in teaching, research and Extension.”

An alumna of the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science, Silvasy went to the University of Hawaii at Manoa for her Master’s Degree in Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences. “I like tropical plants, especially

Tiare “Tia” Silvasy

Amber Norris

coconuts, bananas, bamboo, and mangoes. Most recently, I was the Florida-Friendly Landscaping agent as UF/IFAS Extension Orange County. You can view some of my previous work on my old UF blog and Garden Florida! Facebook page I managed. Some of my favorite topics are edible landscaping, lakefronts and alternative lawns.

“I will be planning various programs that will focus on residential horticulture, landscaping and gardening,” she said. “Topics will include vegetable gardening, butterfly gardening, native plants, lawns, wildflowers and many more. I will also be leading the next Master Gardener Volunteer training in the fall of 2023. Check our Eventbrite page to stay up-to-date on future classes and our Facebook page for educational posts and follow my posts on my new UF Blog.” That page can be accessed at: https://www.eventbrite. com/o/ufifas-hillsborough-extension-8606873308.

Both Norris and Silvasy can be reached by telephone at 813/744-5519 or email: Amber.Norris@ufl.edu and TSilvasy@ufl.edu.

Tampa Bay Fishing Report

Tampa Bay is arguably one of the best saltwater fishing spots in the west-central Florida area. It's a great place to fish for snook, sheepshead, gray snapper, or some nice reds, especially in the early winter. With its many fishing piers and boat ramps, it's convenient and easy to access excellent fishing throughout the Tampa Bay area.

This dynamic fishing area is greatly influenced by the tides, affecting what you'll catch and when. Fish are nearly everywhere, but if you know and use the tides to your advantage, you'll maximize your success. Depending on your species preferences, local anglers usually work the outside mangrove edges behind the mangrove islands during high tide and work inside and outside flats during low tides. There are lots of tackle dealers located around the bay area. So if you prefer, you can pack relatively light and just buy what you need once you're in the area. More and more Kayak enthusiasts have also begun frequenting the area, as there is plenty of shoreline areas to launch.

Overall, Tampa Bay is an exciting spot that anglers will enjoy year-round. With the amount of fishing in the area, you're bound to catch something.

February usually means cool weather, windy days and low, tides. Low tides are a good indicator of where you're going to fish. Just remember, when the tides are negative, and you're looking around and seeing nothing but sand; at least you know where you're not going to fish.

Snook: Snook fishing in January means chilly mornings and warmer afternoons. Low tides around new or full moons mean fish should concentrate on potholes and the outside of bars. The season remains closed during January; however, as long as we do not get any extended, hard freezes catch and release should be ok. Search out deep-water canals, rivers, creeks with heat holding muddy bottoms. Bridges, pilings, and deep-water docks are good places to look. Try using baits like finger mullet, small ladyfish, pinfish, and jumbo shrimp. And don't forget about diving lures fished slowly along or near structure. Later in the day, look for sandy shoals and sunning snook. Often soft plastics worked slowly along the bottom should result in some nice fish. Do not forget docks, especially those with lights at night.

Redfish: Winter weather does typically not bother redfish. However, reds, like other fish subjected to shallow water temperatures, can get lockjaw. There are usually plenty of good fish hanging around various areas like shallower grass flats, oyster bars, docks, and jetties. Reds are not fussy about eating artificial lures, especially soft plastic on a jig head. Try tipping each jig with a small piece of shrimp; it does wonders around docks. You will find reds around the flats near.

Spotted Sea Trout: Incoming or outgoing tides, live shrimp, artificial shrimp, Popper Corks, and any good grass flat will produce nice trout. Seek out and

Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)

Capt. Woody Gore

target potholes on broken bottom flats because trout like to lay in and around potholes. Broken-bottoms mean grass flats dotted with sandy potholes or rocky bottoms. Try drifting flats, and tossing artificial lures should produce plenty of fun and often larger fish. Remember, potholes hold large trout.

Cobia: If we get some good cold fronts dropping the water temperatures, it should send the cobia looking for warmer water. The beaches and nearshore waters should start showing fish sunning themselves near the surface. Whenever fishing sandy flats, keep an eye open for large rays since cobia often cruise with them, looking for a quick meal. Big shrimp, small crabs, large greenbacks, or pinfish will work.

Other: Sheepshead will be everywhere this time of year, especially around docks, bridges, rock piles, and oyster bars. Try using green mussels, shrimp, or oysters. Small jigs tipped with shrimp work well around docks and oysters. Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, jack crevalle, and bluefish are always fun to bend a rod.

GIVE ME A CALL & LET'S GO FISHING

813-477-3814

Capt. Woody Gore operates Tampa Bay's #1 Outdoor Fishing Guide Services. Guiding and fishing in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater areas for over fifty years, he offers first-class customer service, family-oriented charters, and a lifetime of memories. Visit his website, www.captainwoodygore.com Email: fishing@captainwoodygore.com

In the 1890s Henry B. Plant originally held what was to become the Florida State Fair to promote his Tampa Bay Hotel.

In 1904, Tampa Bay Hotel manager T.J. Laud-Brown revived the fair concept when he, city founders, and railroad officials put on what is considered the first-ever Florida State Fair.

The event—called the South Florida Fair—was held on 27 acres next to the Tampa Bay Hotel, at a site that is now home to the University of Tampa.

The event included five races for betting and a building housing agricultural exhibits.

In 1915 the Florida State Mid-Winter Festival officially became known as The Florida State Fair.

In 1975, Florida State Legislature created the Florida State Fair Authority and designated the Tampa event as the official Florida State Fair.

In 1977, the fair was held at its current location at Interstate 4 and U.S Highway 301 in eastern Hillsborough County for the first time.

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR

When you take your marriage vows it is supposed to be until “Death Do Us Part,” however many marriages end up in divorce. There’s nothing like divorce to bring out the worst in people. Attorneys who specialize in family law share the craziest antics they’ve had the pleasure of witnessing over the years. (Out of respect for their clients, they’ve requested to remain anonymous.)

“One of my clients had a chemical peel before her deposition so she could look good in front of her husband. Instead, her skin turned bright red and began falling off of her face during the meeting!”

After a lengthy and harshly contested divorce case, the wife looked out her window on the day after the trial ended and saw a moving van at the house next door. It was her ex moving in. He had purchased their neighbor’s house secretly during the trial.

One attorney said, “The only thing my client wanted from the house were her son’s bar mitzvah pictures. We agreed that her husband would keep the album and she would get all the prints. When the prints were delivered to her, she realized that her image had been cut out of all the photos. When she confronted her ex about this he claimed, ‘Oops, your sister must have done it to make me look bad.’”

One Attorney in Texas said, “I find it funny when a client is ordered to provide a hair follicle drug test, then shows up for the test having shaved their head, not realizing hair follicle tests can be achieved with leg hair, hair from the armpit or pubic hair; it’s even better when the client realizes that any hair can be used, so waxes their whole body and calls it a ‘lifestyle choice.’”

The story is told, “One night my client was leaning on the kitchen counter, shooting the breeze with his wife and she said to him, ‘Do you want chicken or fish tonight for dinner? I need to know what to take out of the freezer. Oh, and by the way, I’m having an affair with the next door neighbor so I want a divorce.’ Her nonchalance really threw him into a tailspin; if she could break that kind of news to him as easily as ‘chicken or fish,’ what else did she have up her sleeve? He became convinced she was trying to kill him to expedite her love plans with the neighbor and that she’d accomplish this by poisoning his food. He installed a deadbolt on his bedroom, bought himself a mini-fridge and a hotplate and he didn’t leave his room until the mandatory waiting period to finalize the divorce expired.”

This is a good one! “This was a hotly contested divorce. The husband (who had been having an affair) agreed to buy out the wife’s interest in their home for

Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the January 2019 issue

more money than the wife would have received if she had kept the home and sold it herself. When the couple appeared in court to finalize the divorce, the wife, who had previously agreed to everything, refused to sign the papers unless the husband gave her every last landscaping rock surrounding the house. She didn’t want to be paid for the value of the rocks. She wanted the husband to agree to rip out those exact rocks from the front yard and give them back to her because she claimed they were a gift from her father. At the time, she lived in an apartment.”

A Florida attorney said “My client hated his wife so much that the mere idea of her having his toolbox was special to him. He asked for temporary use and possession in a $3,000 hearing (actual cost of attorney’s fees) for tools that were worth $500. By the time we drafted the motion for his use and possession of tools, I advised him that I could have bought him a top-ofthe-line new set at my hourly rate — and without looking so petty in front of the judge. Opposing counsel was in the same boat, arguing over the same, silly tools. The judge called us into her office mid-hearing, and literally laughed out loud for a solid minute before she told us to get out of her courtroom and make our clients behave.”

During a very heated divorce, it came as somewhat of a surprise when the wife, who had been fighting for the contents of the house, quickly agreed to give up the living room furniture set to her husband, who had moved to a new place. When the movers delivered the furniture, the husband started wheezing and sneezing within minutes. He was allergic to cats, something his former wife knew. Turns out that right after he moved out, she bought three longhaired Persian kitties. Their favorite place to sleep and shed? You guessed it...all over the velvety, soft living room furniture.

“I represented a woman in a divorce. When I told her that she would receive over $300,000 per month in support she said to me, ‘How am I going to live on that?’ I guess the husband couldn’t live with that, either; he died of a heart attack before the divorce was finalized.”

A dietitian was addressing a large audience in Chicago: “The material we put into our stomachs is enough to have killed most of us sitting here, years ago. Red meat is awful. Soft drinks erode your stomach lining. Chinese food is loaded with MSG. Vegetables can be disastrous to some and none of us realize the longterm harm caused by the germs in our drinking water. But there is one thing that is the most dangerous of all and we all have eaten or will eat it. Can anyone here tell me what food it is that causes the most grief and suffering for years after eating it?” A 75-year-old man in the front row stood up and said, “Wedding cake.”

Time To Cover Up

By Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Agent Hillsborough County and UF/IFAS Extension

We know the potential for a frost or freeze is coming sooner or later. When either of these weather conditions is forecast, we need to be prepared.

Plant coverings can protect against frost or cold. You can use sheets, quilts or frost/freeze cloth, and you should place them on the plants before the sun goes down. Other than frost/freeze cloth, covers must be removed during daylight.

Frost/freeze cloth may remain in place for several days as air and light flow through the cloth. Don’t use plastic because it transfers the cold onto the plant. You can, however, put plastic on top of the sheet or quilt during windy freezes or on very cold nights. The covering you select must extend to the ground to capture heat from the soil and provide wind protection.

Even though you have covered your plants, an additional source of heat may be needed. Christmas tree lights — not LED, because they do not provide heat — or a light bulb may provide enough heat to protect your plant from freezing.

Covering tropical plants in your landscape and those not hardy in your zone may help those plants survive

cold weather. If you can’t live without tropical plants, you can move them from your landscape to your porch, lanai or garage. Your garage may well be 10-plus degrees warmer than the outside temperature and is an option for plant storage during freezing temperatures. Container plants can be covered to the ground or grouped together and covered.

Don’t encourage new plant growth by pruning or fertilizing because the plant will be more prone to cold damage. There are two options on pruning. The first is to delay pruning post-freeze until you see new growth and after the risk of a future freeze passes. Then prune beyond the point of black or brown stem coloration. The damaged plant material insulates and protects the live parts of the plant. The second option is to prune all dead plant material and freeze damage after the freeze. This makes it easier to cover and protect the plant if a freeze occurs before spring.

Healthy plants are less prone to cold damage and more resistant to insect damage or disease. Slightly moisten the soil before a freeze or near-freeze because moist soil releases more heat than dry soil. Hand watering the ground beneath the plant helps. Maintain a three-inch layer of mulch after it settles. Mulch helps regulate the

soil temperature and protects the plant roots.

After a freeze you should check to determine if your plant needs water. Applying water to the soil will provide both a thaw and water for your plant.

Most perennials are root hardy. While the foliage will die back to the ground, new growth will appear in the spring. Be patient because it can take several months before shoots are visible above the ground.

For assistance with horticultural questions, call 813-744-5519 or visit us at 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584. More gardening information is available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Remember to reduce, reuse, recycle and repeat.

Contact Lynn Barber at labarber@ufl.edu

UF Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety receives over $7M in renewal funding

By Samantha Murray

Workers in agriculture, fisheries and forestry are among those at greatest risk nationally for injury and work-related health problems. Additionally, work-related fatalities are nearly seven times higher in these industries compared to all other industries in the United States.

With the goal of reducing the incidence and severity of chronic and acute health and safety problems in these occupational groups, the University of Florida’s Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, or SCCAHS, has been awarded $7 million in renewed funding from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SCCAHS has developed a solid portfolio of innovative research and outreach projects since its establishment in 2016, and the new grant will extend this work for another five-years.

Dr. J. Glenn Morris, Jr., director of the UF Emerging Pathogens Institute and a professor of infectious diseases, is the project director of SCCAHS. Communications and outreach will be overseen by Tracy Irani, professor and chair of the department of family, youth, and community sciences in the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

SCCAHS is a collaborative effort between UF/IFAS, the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions, and the UF Emerging Pathogens Institute.

“We’re investigating some really complex challenges that are at the intersection of health and agriculture, so it is important we bring together experts from multiple perspectives,” Morris said.

“Agricultural workers are exposed to a variety of hazards, including extreme heat and ergonomic risks, and we are working to improve the health and safety of our workforce,” Irani said. “While our researchers are exploring new solutions and interventions to health and safety challenges, our outreach team is working to ensure these interventions get into the hands of the agricultural workers and stakeholders that need them. For example, during the pandemic, we provided educational resources in Spanish and Haitian Creole to Extension professionals and sponsored free Mental Health First Aid trainings and supplies to agricultural workers and Exten-

sion county faculty affected by recent hurricanes and flooding, and we look forward to providing similar support in the future.”

The renewal funding for SCCAHS will also support new research on the kidney health of agricultural workers in Florida.

Using artificial intelligence tools to analyze electronic health records, the researchers hope to understand what factors may put agricultural workers in the U.S. at risk of developing chronic kidney disease of unknown origin, or CKDu, a condition currently only found among agricultural workers in Asia and Latin America. CKDu is a form of kidney disease that is unrelated to common risk factors that typically contribute to chronic kidney disease among the general public, such as diabetes and high blood pressure

“If our research shows that agricultural workers in Florida are developing CKDu, our next step would be to put in place prevention strategies to minimize the risk of such outcomes,” Morris said.

A companion project will aim to understand how the disease develops and identify new biomarkers that will allow for earlier detection of CKDu. The disease tends to be diagnosed late, when the affected person’s kidneys fail. Earlier detection could lead to earlier intervention and better health outcomes, such as avoiding dialysis.

SCCAHS is part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Agricultural Health and Safety Initiative. One of 11 agricultural health and safety centers across the country, SCCAHS explores and addresses the occupational safety and health needs of people working in agriculture, fishing, and forestry in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

The University of Florida is the lead institution of this Center, partnering with the University of South Florida (USF), Florida State University (FSU), Florida A&M University (FAMU), Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine and the University of the Virgin Islands.

NEWS BRIEFS

Compiled by Jim Frankowiak

District Feral Hog Hunts Underway

USDA Accepting Rural Energy for America Applications

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is accepting feral hog hunt registrations for Phase 2 hunts on District lands throughout the year to help reduce the feral hog population.

• Phase 2 will include five hunts that occur now through February 2023.

• Permits are transferable.

• The single top producer on each hunt of Phase 2 will be placed on the District’s “top producer” list and will be contacted between March and October 2023 to take part in feral hog management hunts on an as-needed basis, free of charge.

Feral hogs, which are not native to Florida, can cause damage with their broad snouts and can leave an area looking like a plowed field. They also prey on native wildlife, compete with native species for food and transmit diseases to other wildlife, livestock and humans. Additionally, hogs may facilitate the spread of exotic plant species by transporting seeds and/or providing germination sites through rooting.

The District has a three-phased hunting system. The first two phases of hunts have separate registration processes. The single top producer from each Phase 1 and Phase 2 hunt will be asked to participate in hog management activities for Phase 3.

For more information, visit: WaterMatters.org/HogHunts.

Preparing for FSMA Inspections

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is conducting Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) inspections on behalf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USDA). In that regard, FDACS is offering growers to ways to prepare for the inspections: PSA Grower Training – the course is offered in partnership by FDACS and the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS; and, an free, On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR), an on-site educational opportunity also offered by FDAS and UF/IFAS. For more information, visit:www.fdacs.gov/fsma.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to expand renewable energy and support energy-efficiency projects for people living in rural America. USDA has $300 million available for this initiative.

Agricultural producers and rural small businesses are eligible applicants for loan guarantees and grants to develop renewable energy systems and to make energy-efficiency improvements. For more information, interested parties should contact USDA Florida Rural Development State Energy Coordinator Al Burns at 386/269-3526 or by email: al.burns@usda.gov.

USDA and USTR Seek New Trade Advisory Committee Members

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) are seeking applications for new members to serve on agricultural trade advisory committees. Members of the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee advise the administration on implementing and enforcing existing U.S. Trade agreements, negotiation of new agreements and other trade policy matters.

Members of the six Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees (ATACs) provide technical advice and guidance on international trade issues that affect specific agricultural commodity sectors. The ATACs focus on trade in animals and animal products, fruits and vegetables, grains, feeds, oilseeds and planting seeds, processed foods, sweeteners and sweetener products, tobacco, cotton and peanuts. Applicants must have expertise in U. S. agriculture and experience in international trade to be considered for committee membership. Application instructions are available at: fas.usda.gov. The deadline for receipt of applications is 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) January 31, 2023.

USDA Offering Conservation Funding Opportunities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has fiscal year 2023 assistance opportunities for agricultural producers and private landowners for key programs such as the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) that helps build on existing conservation efforts while strengthening operations.

NRCS accepts applications throughout the year for its conservation programs. Interested producers may receive application assistance by contacting the USDA Plant City Service Center at 201 South Collins Street, Suite 201, Plant City, FL 33563. Telephone: 813/752-1474, Ext. 2.

FFA BIKE DROP

On December 23, members from the Durant and J F St. Martin FFA Chapters participated in their annual FFA Bike Drop. Both FFA chapters solicited donations from businesses, parents, school clubs and even FFA members themselves. This year was bigger and better than ever, with a total of 75 new bicycles being donated to students at the following elementary schools:

J. S. Robinson, Trapnell, Pinecrest, Nelson, and Walden Lake.

This is a huge undertaking but is well worth the effort to put a smile on a little person’s face at such a special time of the year. We thank our FFA Alumni chapter as well as many parents who helped with securing the bikes, assembling them, as well as the best part, delivering them! Anyone wishing to help in the future is asked to contact the Durant High Agriculture Department at 813 757 9075.

FLORIDA CRANBERRIES

By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science

Cranberries get the spotlight during the holiday season and winter months and are often seen on holiday tables as cranberry sauce or as a decoration. These tart little berries are considered a superfood, a food that is very high in nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants. Cranberries are also well known for their health benefits, including their role in reducing the recurrence of urinary tract infections.

Over 95 percent of fresh cranberries are processed to make cranberry sauce or juice, and a smaller percentage is sold as dried fruit. Fresh cranberries are sour and bitter, so the majority is processed with sugar into a more palatable form. Fresh cranberries can also be frozen for longer storage.

Did you know Florida also produces fresh cranberries? These are a different type than the traditional cranberry. Florida cranberries are also called roselle hibiscus, sorrel, and cranberry hibiscus. In addition to being an edible fruit, Florida cranberries are also used as a natural red food coloring. Its most popular uses are for tea, jams and preserves, and in cocktails.

The deep, rich color of cranberries is due to anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid that is full of antioxidants. This nutrient protects the body and brain from oxidative stress and can even reduce the risk of some cancers. Cranberries contain high antioxidant levels and regularly eating cranberries contributes to good health and disease protection.

Nutritional Profile

In addition to its antioxidants, cranberries are high in both soluble and insoluble fiber and a host of other vitamins and minerals. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of fresh cranberries contains 45 calories, 1 g of protein, 0.5 g of fat, 12 g of carbohydrate, and 4 g of fiber. It also provides 25% of the Daily Reference Intake for vitamin C, 16% for manganese, 9% for vitamin A, 6% for vitamin K, and significant amounts of calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, copper, and zinc.

Fully ripened cranberries contain the most antioxidants. Research suggests that the antioxidant levels actually increase as a fruit fully ripens. Ripe berries are freshest if kept in the refrigerator and consumed within a few days. They can also be frozen and can last up to nine months in the freezer. Both fresh and frozen cranberries contain high levels of anthocyanins.

Healthy Brain

Regularly eating cranberries may alleviate some of the effects of age-related cognitive decline which occurs in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. When older animals were fed berries, they showed improvements in short-term memory, coordi-

nation, balance, muscle strength and stamina. Polyphenols, another type of antioxidant occurring in high levels in berries, were thought to be responsible for this improvement. Regular intake of polyphenols, found in berries and red wine, is associated with a reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Healthy Heart

Cranberries are also great for heart health. In animal studies, berry consumption was associated with a lower risk of heart disease and stroke by lowering cholesterol and total blood lipid levels. Other research showed a correlation between berry consumption in rats and altered vascular cell components that can influence blood pressure levels.

Cancer Prevention

Other disease-fighting compounds in berries have been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, and these include phenolic acids, tannins, and flavonols. High intakes of flavonols have been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in women, compared to those who ate the least.

Ways to Enjoy

The calyx is the most popular part of the Florida cranberry, but the seeds and leaves are also edible and can be added to salads. Separate the calyx from the seeds before cooking, freezing, drying, or preserving. Florida cranberries can be made into jams, preserves, and pickles. A popular use is to steep in hot water for tea and add ginger, honey or lemon as desired. Enjoy fresh Florida cranberries in their peak season today. They’re delicious and they’re good for you!

Selected References

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://www.whfoods.com

TRAINS AND BERRIES

THE PLANT CITY PHOTO

By Plant City Photo Archives | looking Back This article ran in 2006

For those of you who missed it, the 2006 Florida Strawberry Festival theme was “Making Tracks for Fun”, combining strawberries with the transportation revolution that really helped to put Plant City and all of Hillsborough County on the nation’s map – the railroad!

For rail shipment to northern markets, strawberries were packed in crates, then placed on top of the metal and the crate was sealed. This photo shows A.J. McKinney, Joe Jerkins, Oscar Pope, and Charles Jacobs at the Lakeland rail loading platform, circa 1910.

ARCHIVES

The Photo Archives was invited to set up an exhibit at the Festival, so we scoured several resources and produced ten enlargements of scenes representative of various aspects of Florida’s strawberry industry in the years past. Here are those photographs with short captions to give you a glimpse of yesteryear.

Sadie and Ferdy Ventling’s berries were almost legendary. They peddled them to tourists on the trains stopping in Glen Saint Mary, in northern Florida. They are shown here in their strawberry field in 1915.

In the early days of berry farming, entire families would harvest the succulent fruit in their fields. In this photo, circa 1915, Jim, Lizzie, Louise, Cleve, and Ethel Lanier, and John Roberts, are shown working their Polk County farm.

Strawberry farming has traditionally been a family affair. Here, Mr. Loy holds a flat of quart boxes. With him are the young Burrell Loy, Pauline Wilder Bradford, and Mrs. Loy. Photo circa 1920 at the D.E. Hawthorne strawberry field near Plant City.

Before the State Farmers Market was opened, berry growers would market their strawberries directly at the rail depot. Buyers would then pack them in iced crates and ship them north. This photo shows Plant City, circa 1920.

After picking, strawberries were taken to a field shed for sorting. After sorting, the berries were packed into quart baskets, and the baskets were packed in 24-quart field crates, as shown here in February 1924.

This photo shows the special use wooden wheel barrow, on which farmers could balance three strawberry carriers, with room for additional quart baskets under them. The photo was taken in Plant City in 1946.

In 1933, buyers and strawberry farmers would negotiate directly at the rail depot shipping platform. The buyers would then load them onto the rail cars for shipment north. The photo shows the Plant City rail yard.

This 1950 photo shows strawberry growers unloading at the State Farmers Market in Plant City. From here, strawberries were loaded directly into refrigerated rail cars for delivery to northern cities.

Sources: The Florida Memory Project, State Library and Archives of Florida, and Plant City Photo Archives, Inc.

This was the arrival of the first diesel powered passenger train in Plant City, and in the southeast – the Orange Blossom Special (1938). This Seaboard Air Line Railway Company express train expedited shipments to northern markets.

NEW YEARS’ RESOLUTIONS FOR YOUR GARDEN

By Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping ™ agent, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County

Did you know the most popular New Years’ Resolutions include improving your fitness, losing weight and saving money? Gardening activities can improve your fitness, provide great exercise and save you money at the same time! With the New Year here, many of us addicted to gardening are starting to plan our time in the garden.

I asked our Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM team to give me their garden related resolutions for the new year. Mine are also included.

Will wants to improve his health while eating his way through his garden, increasing his vegetable consumption and growing herbs to expand his culinary pallet. Makes sense to me considering his role with community gardens.

Heather plans to reduce her carbon footprint by focusing on ways to reuse items or compost them rather than throwing them away. Guess what she teachers at Extension? If you thought composting, you would be correct!

Paula told me that her first resolution would be to actually get/grow a garden. Her second resolution would be to talk with several people who have fabulous gardens, say she’s doing research (she does work at Extension) and ask for comparative samples. YUM! Paula thinks she is coming to my yard to pick and eat perennial peanut flowers.

Sonya is interested in understanding her plants’ water needs better so she won’t over or under water. She also wants to learn more about companion planting to save money, rotate

crops/vegetables and see how plants actually help each other. Yes, she teaches water conservation using microirrigation.

I have several and hope some (or all) will come to fruition! My gardening resolutions include spending more time in the perennial peanut easement bed to remove clover and other weeds and continue to pick up sticks/branches in the far backyard from our hurricane encounters. I should read at least one of the wonderful gardening books I purchased at the UF/IFAS Bookstore in Gainesville. Check out their web-

site: http://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/. I am somewhat committed to repairing my wooden bench and moving it to the side yard where I can enjoy the plants, butterflies and birds. I will volunteer to help my friend, Ara, pull weeds in her yard, but maybe we could play Scrabble instead! I should clean out my rain barrel. Guess what I teach? Correct, rainwater harvesting.

For information about our upcoming horticultural programs, visit our website: http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough/ and check out our calendar of events: http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough/upcoming-events/. Wishing all of you safe and wonderful holidays. Hope you can get outside and garden! Contact Barber at labarber@ufl.edu

Astins Keep the Family in

“FAMILY FARM”

By Michelle Caceres

Succession planning is a lot like raising a crop. It takes time and starts with planting a seed.

That seed has been planted in the Astin sisters’ (Madison, Payton and Baylee) heads since they were born. The fourth generation strawberry farmers have grown up watching their parents, Sam and Buffy, grow the family business into the thriving company it is today.

The sisters are now grown up and taking on the demands of the family business.

“My mom always says that my dad is a little outnumbered between all of us girls in the family but we’ve definitely added a uniqueness to the dynamic of our family farm,” said Payton Astin, the company’s marketing director. “For my sisters and I, farming is more of a lifestyle than a career and throughout our childhood we spent a lot of time with our dad on the farm learning about all the dedication it takes to grow a crop.”

As long as they can remember, strawberries have been a part of their lives. The young women have fond memories of their father taking them into the fields early one morning every

March to pick the most beautiful and perfect berries to pack in a strawberry flat for the Florida Strawberry Festival’s Best Flat Contest, a charitable event where growers bring their best berries to be judged on flavor, size and color. “It was one of our favorite traditions growing up,” said Payton Astin.

After graduating from high school, each sister earned a degree from the University of Tampa: Madison graduated with a degree in Business Management and a Master’s in Business Administration, Payton graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Public Relations and Baylee graduated with a degree in Entrepreneurship.

Payton Astin is its marketing manager, a role where she leverages her youth to spread the word about the company’s products. “The coolest part about my generation being involved in agriculture is our ability to use social media to educate people about what we do and how we do it,” she said. “It’s really neat to use social media platforms to connect with our consumers and show them where their food comes from.” Their parents couldn’t be more proud of their daughters as they perpetuate the family business. “We’ve watched the girls grow up on the farm and see their love of being a part

Four generations of the Astin family have been growing quality produce on their farm for a century.

Photos Courtesy of the Astin Family

of agriculture and the family business,” they said. “We always remind them that it’s okay to make mistakes but to continue to learn from them and always move forward, not making that same mistake again.”

The story of this family-owned and operated farm started in the 1920s when Sam Astin Sr. moved to Plant City and bought a few acres of land. Astin Farms officially opened for business in 1923, when he sold his first crops of corn, pole beans and a couple rows of strawberries to local residents. Astin bought up land and continued to grow his business throughout the next couple of decades. In 1930, his son Sam Astin Jr. was born. More and more rows of strawberries were planted each year as the fruit increased in popularity. Sam Astin III (the Astin women’s father) was born in the 1960s and joined his father full-time on the farm after graduating from high school.

With the help of his father and mentor, he and his family built upon the history and tradition that had been passed down by each generation by creating Astin Strawberry Exchange in 2001, a facility that would handle the sales, marketing and distribution of their crops. Ten years later, Sam and Buffy expanded again when they opened Astin Family Farms in Riverview, which would act as the packing and cooling facility for the 540-acre farm.

“Our main goal is to harvest the best possible quality fruit,” said Payton Astin.

Astin Farms, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, now represents more than 1,700 acres of strawberry and blueberry fields that produce more than 40 million pounds of fruit each season, and are sold across the U.S. and Canada. “There have been generations of hard work that has led us to

where we are today and I feel that there is a lot to be learned from that alone,” said Madison Astin. “Our parents have always taught us that working together as a team is important. The dynamic of our family business reaches far beyond blood because everyone who works on the farm is considered family.” While the next generation of operators and stewards of Astin Farms looks to the future, they’re satisfied that in the present they can hone their skills by continuing to learn from their father. “We feel extremely proud and honored to work with our dad and to be a part of something that has been around for a hundred years,” said Madison Astin. “We hope to carry on the tradition of putting fresh food on the tables of the people in this country.”

New Laws For The New Year

by John Dicks | Photo by iStock

Well, here we are, with a healthy start to a brand new year!

Probably you’ve noticed that every year, soon after we watch on tv the ball dropping in Time Square, and the singing of Auld Lang Syne rolls through the party (provided we’re still awake!), you can bet on a couple of things to always ring true.

One is a quick resignation to the New Year’s resolutions that were hastily announced during the countless cheers, celebrations and toasts. Oh well, we can save those until next year!

The other is that a new year so often marks the start date of a slew of new laws. It’s as if the date was chosen with the hope by legislators that people might not notice while things otherwise slip by.

First on the list of new “laws” is one that many might enjoy since it could slip some extra dollars into your pocket. It’s a rebate of sorts for drivers who spend lots of money paying tolls.

Of course if your travel keeps you steered clear of toll booths, this won’t mean much, if anything at all.

Nonetheless, Florida legislators decided a few months ago that it would be a great thing to give back some cash to motorists who are what we might call “frequent tollers.” A random number, or so it seems, of 35 or more toll-road trips in a month will generate you some cash, in the form of a rebate, straight from the state treasury of Florida.

It’s not insignificant either. Evidently, legislators loved the idea so much that if you hit the magic number of 35 monthly trips, you get back a credit of 50% of your month’s tolls! Great, I guess, for some people, but if you have less than 35 tolls in a month, even if its 34 tolls, you get zero, nada, none!

What an incentive that must be to check your SunPass account on the last day of each month to see how many tolls you’ve tallied up. If it’s less than 35, it might pay you to take a quick spin on the Polk Parkway just to run-up a few charges in order to get the rebate!

Rather silly, huh?!

It’s estimated that the average commuter is expected to save about $400 per year on this “Toll Relief Program,” as it is referred to on Florida’s SunPass website. Sounds good to the drivers who get the cash, of course, but it also means less money will be going into the coffers for the building and maintenance of our Florida roads.

To make up for the deficit, lawmakers have agreed to spend $500 million, presumably coming from general revenue, to help toll agencies cover lost revenue.

It all seems at odds with the vision of SunPass, which emphasizes on its website that “a toll is a true user fee. It is not a tax! You only pay for a toll when you choose to use a toll road. If you do not drive on the toll road, then you do not have to pay.”

All true, of course, except when your other taxes go to subsidize the lost revenue that frequent toll drivers get credit for.

Wouldn’t it have been a far simpler system, and fairer one too, just to cut the cost of tolls a bit for everybody? Seems like that would have made a lot of sense (and cents) to me.

There are some other state laws which took effect on January 1 that do sound more reasonable.

One has to do with restrictions on certain officials in regard to when they can start lobbying after leaving their government positions. It used to be that legislators and others had to wait two years before they could so. Now they must wait six years.

What’s interesting about the change is that it was mandated to be done so by Florida voters in a constitutional amendment that passed overwhelmingly back in 2018. Apparently, sometimes the will of voters takes time to work through the machinery of government!

I hope you’re already having a Happy New Year!

John Dicks is both a Lawyer and Businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a Blueberry Farm and have Agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!”. John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his Law Degree from Florida State University. John serves as Of Counsel to Trinkle Redman, a law firm in Plant City where he also served nine years as City Commissioner, including three terms as Mayor.

A Closer Look Epoxy Casting by Sean Green Naturally Amazing Activities

I found a new hobby and absolutely love the possibilities. This month we will cast trinkets with epoxy. There are different types of epoxy and the stuff you get from an art store that they call “casting resin” is about three times more expensive than it should be. For this project I got some two-part epoxy from the hardware store that is marketed as a floor and table coating. It’s basically the same stuff casting resin is made of (polyurethane). For the mold, I tried different things, such as clay, cookie cutters, and shallow dishes, and discovered quickly that some materials need a good coat of release before pouring the epoxy or you will lose your mold to the epoxy sticking to it.

Materials:

Two-Part polyurethane epoxy resin

Petroleum Jelly

Modeling Clay (option)

Cookie Cutter (option)

Shallow plastic container (option)

DESIGN:

Model Objects (to squish into the clay)

Objects to embed into the epoxy (sea shells, foliage, coins, etc.)

For Clay molds: Roll the clay out onto a slab twice as thick as you want your finished cast piece to be Press a model object (sea shells, Fancy Key, Bark, Rock, Pendent, etc..) into the clay to make a deep recess.

For Cookie Cutter molds:

Spread wax paper on a flat surface Coat the cookie cutter with petroleum jelly (to prevent the epoxy from sticking)

For Shallow Container molds: Coat the container with petroleum jelly (to prevent the epoxy from sticking)

Production:

Once your set up, it’s time to mix the epoxy resin. Follow the directions from the manufacturer as a starting point.

For soft flexible finished pieces, reduce the amount of hardener / for stiff (but brittle) pieces, add hardener.

Pour the mixed epoxy into the mold

** Note ** if you are embedding objects into the epoxy, pour only half thick and let it dry enough to support a toothpick without sinking. (about 30 minutes)

Carefully lay object on top of the tacky epoxy, gently poke at the objects with a toothpick to get them to stick evenly to the base layer of epoxy.

While drying, food coloring or paint can be added and swilled into the thick epoxy for fun designs.

Add the second layer of epoxy and let it dry overnight. After the casting is dry, it can be sanded, painted, and polished or even drilled to make Christmas ornaments or pendants.

A Closer Look by

Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)

Sean Green

Wild boar are found in every county in Florida. With population estimates exceeding 500,000 wild boar, Florida populations are exceeded only by Texas. Florida’s highest populations are in large forested regions north and west of Lake Okeechobee. These animals are described as Hogs, Boar, Pig, and Swine; they are essentially the same animal with certain characteristics that distinguish the name. The term Hog describes domestic pigs that weighs more than 120 lbs. Boar technically describe uncastrated male domestic pigs, however, the term is also used to describe wild pigs of any gender. Pigs, also known as swine, were among the first animals to be domesticated; earliest records date back 9,000 years in an area of ancient China that is now known as Turkey.

Wild boar belongs to the family Suidae (true wild pigs), and are an old-world species that are not native to the Americas. MtDNA (Mitochondrial DNA) studies indicate that the wild boar originated on islands in Southeast Asia such as Indonesia and the Philippines, and later spread to mainland Eurasia and North Africa. Most authorities suggest the first pigs introduced to North America may have come from domestic stock (Sus scrofa domesticus) brought to North America with Ponce de Leon as early as 1521, but more likely not established until 1539 when Hernando de Soto brought pigs with him to provision the early settlements of Charlotte Harbor in Lee County. During the next few centuries, European settlers brought domestic pigs with them to Florida and ranched them on the open range for food. Native American communities soon expanded this new resource by gift or theft. The pigs roamed freely through the forests and swamps and were hunted only when needed for food.

By the early 20th century, hunting large swine became a popular sport and the larger Eurisian or Russian wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa) became a popular release on for hunting.

Feral populations grew and expanded through Florida providing food and sport for many early Florida settlers. Senate Bill No. 34 in 1949 made open range ranching illegal in an effort to prevent animals from “running at large or straying upon public roads.” This was the beginning of fence laws that were more effective at keeping cattle at bay than boar. By the time the Bill was enacted, feral pig populations were already well established in Florida and continued to grow with every pig that escaped captivity and gave rise to the commercialization of hunting wild boar on private fenced land. For a time, the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission trapped and relocated feral populations and hybrids from problem areas to appropriate hunting properties as a means of control (although the state no longer does this).

Although technically the term “feral” originally referred to free-ranging decedents of domesticated stock, all wild swine in Florida are considered feral whether descendants of wild boar or domesticated stock. Likewise, all wild swine in Florida are considered the same species, Sus scrofa. These wild boars share common characteristics that are notable. They have four self-sharpening tusks that are continually growing, two in the upper jaw and two in the lower jaw. Males have larger tusks than females, and thus greater trophy value for hunters. Males also have an upper mantle shoulder hide that can be as thick as ¾” that protects them in fights. Boar have an excellent sense of smell with which they find areas to dig up the soil in search of roots, insects or mast such as acorns or nuts. They have good hearing, but relatively poor vision and rely on a variety of vocalizations to communicate to the rest of the group, ironically called a sounder. For example, the first hog to see a threat will sound a warning call causing a flight response in the entire sounder of swine. A more destructive form of communication is a boars “tusking” behavior in which they rub their scent on trees along frequently used paths, territory, or wallows and sometimes damage the tree in the process. Wallows are a critical environmental resource for boar. Although they have both aprocrine (hair) and eccrine (skin) sweat glands, these glands are not used for cooling. Human beings are the only mammals that rely on sweat as a cooling mechanism. Boar, like other hairless mammals such as elephants, rhino, etc., must wallow in water or mud to cool.

In Florida, peak breeding seasons are in the spring and fall, however, wild hogs breed year-round in Florida and begin as early as one year old provided they are healthy. Sows can produce two litters of one to 13 piglets per year. The average lifespan for a wild hog is only four to five years. Although prey animals such as panthers, alligators, crocodiles and bears can take an adult wild boar, human beings are the boars primary predator. Younger piglets frequently fall prey to smaller predators such as bobcat, foxes, coyotes, and several birds of prey. Wild hogs reproduce faster than potential predators in North America can balance populations. “Natural predators” such as the Gray wolf, Leopards, Tigers, and Komodo dragon that keep wild hog populations balanced are across the ocean where this introduced species originated. Hunting wild boar has a rich history seeded by Florida’s earliest European settlers. It has not only become an American pastime but is an important control method for limiting this invasive species impact on our native fauna and flora.

FARM BUREAU’S DISTRICT 5 WOMEN’S COMMITTEE TOURS GULF COAST RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER

By Jim Frankowiak

Members of Florida Farm Bureau’s District 5 Women’s Committees recently met and toured the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC). Attendees learned about GCREC research projects and also toured the center’s research farm.

The meeting also included a workshop led by Florida Farm Bureau Federation District 5 Field Representative Ellen Cruz where committee members collaborated to create new programs to implement in their home counties, which include Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sumter counties.

Florida Farm Bureau’s Women’s Leadership Program uses the unique talents of women to help support Farm Bureau in organizational, legislative, education and promotional activities. Women are

key in sharing agriculture’s story at the local, state and national levels.

The GCREC is a 475-acre facility located at Balm in southern Hillsborough County. The center faculty includes 20 scientists and more than 200 employees, offering responsive research solutions to growers of numerous commodities in Florida.

The vision and mission of the center have been consistent throughout its nearly 100 years of existence and are in concert with the land-grant mission of service to the state of Florida. Specifically, the center develops and disseminates new scientific knowledge and technology that will assist Florida’s producers to be competitive, both nationally and in the world economy. Key elements of the center’s research mission are to develop low-input horticultural crop production and pest management systems, to develop conservation

strategies to improve the sustainability of agriculture and urban landscape, to improve the genetics of commercially important crops and to address major economic challenges to increase the profitability and sustainability of Florida agriculture. The center’s faculty also excels in the teaching and extension functions of UF/IFAS.

Tim Cribbs “Coach”

By Michael Rogalsky

Here by the Owl. The Owl is a time-honored emblem of knowledge and wisdom. Being older than the rest of you, I am asked to advise you from time as the need arises. I hope that my advice will always be based on true knowledge and ripened with wisdom.

These were words frequently spoken by Mr. Tim Cribbs over his 39-year career as an agricultural educator and FFA advisor here in Hillsborough County. The tens of thousands of students, parents, fellow teachers, and community members whose lives were impacted by Mr. Cribbs had the opportunity to honor him on December 14 when the news came in of his passing after a short battle with cancer.

Mr. Cribbs, who was most addressed by his students as “Coach,” was probably the most competitive FFA Advisor in the State of Florida. Even his own kids, Josh and Caitlin would agree. In fact, He even cut Caitlin from the Durant Parliamentary Procedure team when she was in high school because he thought another student was better at the competition than she was. Now at first, that sounds harsh. But that is what made Mr. Cribbs the true mentor and advisor that he was. He expected the best out of every single student that he worked with. He gave you the tools you needed to be the best and most importantly he believed in every one of his “kids” and knew that they would do their best.

Talking about being the best, when Mr. Cribbs was asked to open the program at Durant alongside a great team of fellow agricultural educators, Durant High School quickly rose to one of the top powerhouse FFA Chapters in the state. Over the past 27 years, he has helped Durant students succeed with 20 State FFA Officers and over 80 State winning Career and Leadership Development teams, two National Public Speaking winners and many Bronze, Silver and Gold rated teams on the State and National levels. But the hard work and dedication didn’t stop there. Proficiency Award applications

were one of Mr. Cribbs specialties. Teachers and other students from across the state and nation would call upon him for help and guidance and of course “Coach” was always up for the task in helping anyone succeed.

Most would think that a competitive and dedicated FFA Advisor would spend all of their time helping those FFA members who wanted to compete and excel in the leadership aspects of the organization. Not Mr. Cribbs. He gave the same attention (and sometimes more) to any student that needed guidance and life advice. Even those that didn’t always want it, he took the time to make them better people. Whether it was helping them select and raise a prize-winning animal, talk them through some of life’s troubles or just a shoulder to cry on, he was there. If you needed help at 2 in the morning, he was there. You could always count on him asking you, “what do you need” when you called him. His response was always “I’ll take care of it,” and he always did.

Mr. Cribbs didn’t just bleed blue and gold, he had a heart of gold. He was a family man, always bragging on his wife, Suzanne, kids Josh and Caitlin, and most recently their spouses and his grandchildren. Every second he wasn’t traveling for FFA or helping a student succeed, he spent time with his

family making the memories that will last on forever. In fact, many family trips were made at State and National Conventions, Leadership Conferences and Career and Leadership Events, because while he wanted to put his family first, his competitiveness always rose to the top and he had to make sure he and his kids were succeeding in everything they did.

“The task of the excellent teacher is to stimulate ‘apparently ordinary’ people to unusual effort. The tough problem is not in identifying winners: it is in making winners out of ordinary people.” There is no truer statement than the life lived by Mr. Tim Cribbs. While he is no longer with us, the impact that he has made on hundreds of thousands of ordinary people across the country will remain in our memories. Those that were impacted by this great man will continue to spread his impact in his honor to those we cross. In the words of one of his former students, Tim Cribbs was not only a winner, a motivator, and a driver but he is also a friend, father to many, a shoulder to lean on and your biggest supporter.

Just a short time prior to the passing of Mr. Cribbs, he was notified that he will be inducted into the Florida FFA Hall of Fame in June of 2023. The Florida FFA Hall of Fame seeks to honor individuals who have rendered outstanding service and leadership to agriculture education and FFA in Florida. Mr. Cribbs had a storied career, decorated by many championships and winning statistics for his program, but it’s his dedication to the field of agriculture, impactful leadership and service that make him the epitome of individuals the FFA Hall of Fame seeks to recognize. Rest easy Coach, we have it from here.

FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD

By J. Scott Angle

They challenged me to do more. For example, they urged me to push Extension to provide guidance for the software purchasing decisions farmers will have to make, similar to how those agents currently provide advice on pesticides.

They also asked that UF/IFAS step up the integration of AI and ES by using technology to capture more nutrients before they leave the farm—and to show a public skeptical of agriculture’s environmental stewardship that farmers and scientists are hard at work on this.

Highlands County YF&R Vice Chair Mikayla Allison asked me how I was going to address incentivizing increased carbon sequestration on land where the soil has already reached a carbon saturation point. I have to confess, even as a soil scientist, that it had not been on my mind.

Allison is a current student in the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences pursuing a master’s degree online in the evenings while she works during the day for an agricultural software company.

MIKAYLA ALLISON

The future of Florida farming depends on turning data into decisions and getting you credit for environmental stewardship.

UF/IFAS will help you achieve the first part through developing agricultural applications for artificial intelligence (AI)—think smart sprayers, counting tree canopies through aerial imaging, and phone apps that detect disease invisible to the human eye.

The second is incentivizing you to continue or even increase the amount of public goods you deliver but for which you do not presently get paid—think wildlife habitat, water storage, and carbon sequestration. We call these ecosystems services (ES).

Neither you in the field nor us in the lab can get there alone. So, I recently reached out to those with the highest stake in that future—the young.

I gathered a dozen of them in Polk County recently, at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, at a meeting I called the Young Ag Leaders Roundtable. Actually, our own young ag leader, Christopher Hodge, UF/IFAS assistant director of governmental affairs, found and gathered them.

We spent a day together in which these leaders not only embraced increased use of AI and ES, they wanted to know how to integrate them into Florida farming faster.

Roy Petteway of Petteway Citrus and Cattle in Hardee County suggested that UF/IFAS make greater use of soil and water conservation districts, including the one for which he has served as a board member, to fund the science needed to advance AI applications and ecosystems services quantification. He also offered to speak on behalf of ag at any forum where he was needed to tell the story of producers’ environmental stewardship.

These young ag leaders urged UF/IFAS to get Florida farming to its future faster and to do it in discussion with them. I can’t guarantee how fast the transformation of Florida agriculture will occur, but UF/IFAS will continue to rely on the insights of these young ag leaders to get there.

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

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

Scott

Memories of the 500th Anniversary Great Florida Cattle Drive

By Susan Simcoe Dotson

I’m a Kentucky farm girl, born and raised, who also has an adventurous romantic side in love with a simpler life gone by. Add in horse crazy and you have a girl that couldn’t turn down taking my quarter horse Big Joe on the 2022 Great Florida Cattle Drive.

In the early 90s I moved from Lexington, Kentucky to Stuart, FL. This is where I went from being a hunter/jumper rider to a cowgirl! I boarded my horse at Sweet Bay Stables in Palm City, Florida and met a group of people that went from acquaintances to lifelong friends in a short amount of time. My life changed the day I decided to go with them on an adventure to a ranch in Okeechobee to move cattle from one pasture to another. Running wide open over the palmettos to turn a rogue cow back was the most fun I’d ever had. Then, after we were finished sitting around talking to the cowboys and listening to their philosophy and way of life, I was hooked! Combining my love for horses and the great outdoors with a simpler way of life made one happy girl! Fast forward almost 30 years I have never lost that romantic notion of being able to get up every morning, saddle my horse and head out into God’s amazing creation to gather cattle.

The Great Florida Cattle Drive was created in 1995 to celebrate the 150th birthday of the state of Florida. A thousand head of cattle were driven over some the most pristine and historic ranchland in Osceloa County. It was decided to make

this a reoccurring event. I was unable to attend the drive in 2016 but I was making the one in 2022.

The Florida Cow Culture Preservation Committee organized this year’s event, which was intended to commemorate Florida’s cattle history and Cracker heritage, and boy did it deliver! They opened it up to 500 riders dividing them into five groups to be led by six seasoned horseman that were our circle bosses. I was part of the green group, and our circle bosses were Cindy Stavely, who is a member of the Florida Peacemakers Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association and served as circle boss on previous rides and Marcus Mitchell, who comes from a family who is rich in Florida cowhunter history and rode in the first cattle drive of “95 as a young cow hunter. They did an amazing job of keeping us informed and organized on the drive.

On the first night before the drive started Mr. Doyle Conner, Jr. made all the announcements for upcoming day. His first words were “This drive ain’t for sissies!” A phrase we all said at one time or another during the drive.

Our days consisted of getting up at 5:00 a.m., tending to our horses, breaking down our tents and packing all the gear we were not carrying on our horses to the transportation trailer. Then it was breakfast at 7:00 a.m., saddling our horses to be ready to ride out at 8:00 a.m. The number of miles we rode

each day ranged from 12-23. When we arrived at camp for the night, we watered our horses and located our trailer with our gear. We would then pick a spot for our horses and tents, unload our gear and set it up. Dinner was usually at 7:00 p.m. and boy did they feed us well. Our circle boss Marcus’ brother owns a catering business call Mitchell’s Catering, and they prepared mouthwatering delicious meals, culminating with prime rib on Friday night that you could cut with a plastic fork! After dinner they had varies entertainment and then it was time for bed.

We rode six days and covered some of the most beautiful untouched Florida land on the Deseret Ranch, Kempfer Ranch, Scape Ranch and Diego Medina’s Ranch. It was like walking back in time and really feeling what it was like to work the land and cattle to provide for your family. Florida is an amazing state with so much history and generations of honest, respectful, salt of the earth, hardworking people. So much more than a beach vacation destination. To some this adventure sounds like lots of work and as they told us, definitely not for sissies, but I wouldn’t change one thing about it and if given the opportunity would drop everything and go again! The camaraderie we are had with each other, and the bonds formed with our horses are priceless!

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