Sept. 15 - Oct. 15, 2009
Polk’s AGRICULTURE Magazine
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MOSAIC
Helping to Feed the World
Special Citrus Section Page 38
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OUR FREE 50 H ITH W SERVICE E OF PURCHAS IES AN M SER R! TRACTO
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POLK COUNTY FARM BUREAU
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Roosters cannot crow if they cannot fully extend their necks. It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky. A horse cannot vomit; neither can a rabbit. Other than fruit, honey is the only natural food that is made without destroying any kind of life! What about milk? A cow has to eat grass to produce milk and grass is a living organism. The underside of horse’s hoof is called the frog. The frog peels off several times a year with new growth. There are more beetles than any other kind of creature in the world. Only one in one thousand animals born in the sea survives to maturity. Camel’s milk does not curdle. “Eat like a bird” is a popular saying meaning to eat very little. However, many birds eat twice their weight in food a day. Fermented honey, known as Mead, is the most ancient fermented beverage. The term “honey moon” originated with the Norse practice of consuming large quantities of Mead during the first month of a marriage. The average hen will lay 227 eggs a year The placement of a donkey’s eyes in its head enables it to see all four feet at all times. An average cow drinks a bath tub full of water every day. Milk is the only agricultural crop that is harvested at least twice every single day! Inca Indians were the first to grow potatoes around 200 B.C. An acre of trees can remove about 13 tons of dust and gases every year from the surrounding environment. Americans eat approximately 100 acres of pizza each day, or 350 slices per second. Products we use in our everyday lives come from plant and animal byproducts produced by America’s farmers and ranchers: - Health care: Pharmaceuticals, surgical sutures, ointments, latex gloves, x-ray film, gelatin for capsules and heart valves.
YOU TOO CAN BE A WINNER No Farmers No Food
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 InTheField® T-Shirt. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the page on which you found the logo and where on that page you located the logo to:
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InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, FL 33563-0042 All Entries must be received by Oct. 3, 2009. Winner will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner - Enter Now! INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2009
1715 U.S. Highway 17 South Bartow, FL 33830 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Member Services 863.533.0561
OFFICERS Kenny Devane................................................ President Larry Black...............................................Vice President Vic Story.................................................. Past President Rob Teston.......................................................Treasurer Kyle Story.......................................................... Secretary
DIRECTORS FOR 2008
J.D. Alexander, Bo Bentley, Larry Black, Scott Blackburn, Marty Bowen, Bill Braswell, Charlie Counter, Kenny DeVane, Anne Dickinson, Wes Donley, Les Duson, Ellis Hunt, Jr., Gretchen Jahna, Jackie James, John Langford, Ed Lassiter, Jerry Mixon, Corby Myers, Will Putnam, Lindsay Raley, Kyle Story, Vic Story, John Strang, Rob Teston, Baxter Troutman, Kevin Updike, Scott Young, Andy Bennett
Heather Nedley, Executive Director 863.533.0561
FARM BUREAU INSURANCE
Agency Manager: Jimmy Williams Bartow Office: 863.533.0561 Fax: 863.533.9241 1715 U.S. Hwy. 17 S. , Bartow, FL 33830
Career Agents: Jimmy Williams, James L. Moser, Jr., John Cavanaugh
Winter Haven Office: 863.299.3892 Fax: 863.291.8548 221 Avenue O SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880
Career Agents: Barry S. Walker & Beverlee J. Lewis
Haines City Office: 863.421.4545 Fax: 863.421.9638 705 Ingraham Avenue, Suite 10 Haines City, FL 33844
Career Agents: Rhonda J. Ambrose & June Hunt
Lakeland Office: 863.667.2001 Fax: 863.619.5953 2033 Edgewood Dr. • Suite 1
Career Agents: Freddy G. Ellis & Coradell D. Thompson
LAKE WALES phone line: 863.676.3187
From the Editor SEPTEMBER VOL. 4 • ISSUE 1
Wow. Talk about misconceptions.
Time magazine published a story entitled, “Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food.” The article shows a very onesided view of farming and ranching and goes so far as to blame obesity on the farmer and rancher. The fact of the matter is people have to eat to stay alive. It is up to each individual to select the food they eat to sustain life. I believe the problem with obesity stems from inactivity. We are a sedentary nation. Obesity is so prevalent, not because of the food we eat, but simply because we shifted, some time ago, from a nation of doers, who were out working in fields, to a nation of office workers, sitting at desks for eight hours a day or more. My answer to the obesity epidemic is simple, get up and get moving. That’s not even half of what the article covers. Agriculture is blamed for the acceleration of global warming due to an energyintensive food system, recalls, which if researched the writer would discover, came mostly from other countries, generating cheap, filling foods, destruction of the soil and environment. I could go on and on. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, farmers and ranchers are the first environmentalists. They are dependant on the land for their living. Making sure it stays in the best possible condition is a way to ensure they can continue their livelihood and feed a growing, hungry nation. The worst possible thing that could happen to this country is to make it dependant on another country to feed its inhabitants. Other countries don’t have the measures in place to ensure that food is safe to consume. I, for one, will continue to support the local farmer and rancher, buying local Fresh From Florida food, and be secure in the knowledge that I am consuming the safest food source possible. Thank you farmers and ranchers! Our hats are off to you for supplying the safest, most abundant food source in the world.
Editor-In-Chief
Sept. 15 - Oct. 15, 2009
Al Berry
®
Polk’s AGRICULTURE Magazine
MOSAIC
Helping to Feed the World
Mosaic Page 48 Special Citrus Section Page 38
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2009
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Patsy Berry
6 Polk County Farm Bureau Letter
Office Manager
9 Farm Bureau Highlight
Brent Simmons
Bob Hughens
Sales Manager Sales
11 CREC Research Update
Tina Richmond Rhonda Wetherington Christa Patterson
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Until Next Month,
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Karen Berry
38 Citrus Expo Wrap Up 44 Florida Avocado
Julie Bedford
Al Berry Carol Weathersbee Sandy Kastor James Frankowiak Julie Bedford Kayla Lewis Nick Chapman Tracy Cox Rhonda Walker
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Photography Karen Berry
In The Field® Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Polk County businesses, restaurants and other local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes members of Polk County Farm Bureau, Florida Citrus Mutual and Polk County Cattlemens 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 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 their 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.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
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POLK COUNTY FARM BUREAU, LAA
1715 U.S. Highway 17 • Bartow, FL 33830 • Phone (863) 533-0561
My Two-Year Term Comes to An End Hard to believe that my two-year term as the Polk County Farm Bureau President is coming to a close. I have thoroughly enjoyed serving the members in this capacity and truly believe we are the best local advocates for farmers in Polk County. The past couple of years we have diligently worked to protect private property owners’ rights through the scenic highway corridor program and involvement in other local land use issues. We spearheaded the effort to ask Polk County governmental decision makers to modify the land development code so Polk County Farmers can apply to build and/or modify existing housing for the H2A program with minimal impact to the industry and the community at large. This request led to the Farm Labor Housing Task Force being established. These efforts are coming to a close and I am pleased to report that the Polk County Board of County Commissioners approved the new land development code for Farm Labor Housing on September 3. This language develops new standards for apartment-style housing with higher standards, in turn the projects will go through a level two administrative review process verses a level three public hearing. I look forward to seeing a facility built in Polk County under these new standards. These are a few examples of Farm Bureau working for agriculture in Polk County. Our annual meeting is just around the corner. This year’s meeting is Thursday October 1 and will feature County manager, Mike Herr as the guest speaker. I hope everyone is making plans to attend the annual meeting. This is a great opportunity to network with other industry members and get an update on local issues. We will also recognize local agriculture teachers and programs for their work this last year and hear from our 2009 Youth Speech Contest winner. Visit our website www. pcfb.org or check out the article about the meeting in this month’s magazine for more details. I look forward to seeing everyone there.
Kenny
F. Kenneth DeVane, Jr. , President
BOARD OF DIRECTORS J.D. Alexander, Bo Bentley, Larry Black, Scott Blackburn, Marty Bowen, Bill Braswell, Charlie Counter, Anne Dickinson, Kenny DeVane, Wes Donley, Les Duson, Ellis Hunt, Jr., Gretchen Jahna, Jackie James, John Langford, Ed Lassiter, Jerry Mixon, Corby Myers, Will Putnam, Lindsay Raley, Kyle Story, Vic Story, John Strang, Rob Teston, Baxter Troutman, Kevin Updike, Scott Young
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Farm Bureau By Anita Whitaker
Jimmy Williams has his priorities in order:
faith, family and Farm Bureau. As a young adult and husband, he had focused on faith and family. So, in 1995, when he came on board as an agent, adding the career component to his list seemed only natural. And, over the years, he has come to realize that, oftentimes, the three aren’t separate but intertwined. “Being a part of Farm Bureau is like being part of a big family,” explained the Polk County Farm Bureau Agency Manager. “Even though the agents compete against one another in some areas, they are still there to help each other out at the drop of a hat.” In 2004, Polk County was hit by three major hurricanes in about six weeks. During the recovery, he said that agents came from all over to help out - not just with Farm Bureau members’ needs but to personally assist the local agents, as well. Farm Bureau’s foundational beliefs mirror the basic Christian beliefs our country was founded on and Williams said that is important to him. “I consider my job to be part of my ministry,” he explained. “There have been many times when I came in contact with someone concerning insurance who also needed a shoulder to cry on or someone to pray with about a personal problem they were facing.” Williams, after spending usually more than 50 hours a week at the office, is sure to make quality time for his family and serving God. He and his wife, Kelly, agreed when their children were born that she would stay home with them. He said once that decision was made he knew the entire responsibility of providing for the family financially fell on him. “I thought to myself, ‘Buddy, you are going to have to learn how to work,’” he laughed. When he was only two months old, his family moved to Zephyrhills. However, the third generation Fort Meade native feels that being back in Polk County has returned him to his roots. His 96-year old grandfather, Olma Hendrick, still lives in the small town and keeps Williams on his toes. Williams’ father, Jimmy, Sr. and mother, Margy, both live in Polk City. Jimmy, Sr. retired from the banking business after more than 40
HIGHLIGHT years. Although he said he considers his dad to be a role model for him, he wasn’t planning on following in his footsteps - he was convinced his future was in construction. As a student at a vocational high school, Williams said he enjoyed working as a plumber before and after graduation. However, the recession of the mid-80s made him rethink his career choice and he went to his father for advice. Jimmy, Sr. pointed him in the right direction by advising him to talk to professionals in different arenas to get their take on the future of that particular career path. He recommended the ‘recession-proof’ (back then) careers: insurance, banking, stock brokering and real estate. “I went to visit the insurance agent and he was about to open another office. He offered me a job on the spot,” he said. That was 1987 and he’s still in the field. He worked as an independent agent with that same gentleman until coming to work for Farm Bureau as an agent in the Pasco County Office. In 2001, he transferred to the Pinellas County Office and has been in Bartow since last year. “I really enjoy working with the agents,” he said. “My goal is to help them achieve their goals and objectives and to support and encourage them.” Williams oversees the four Farm Bureau offices with nine agents in Polk County located in Haines City, Winter Haven, Lakeland and Bartow. When he isn’t working, he likes to spend time with his wife, who was his high school sweetheart, of 23 years, and their two children, Ragan and Ryan. Kelly home schooled the children until they were in high school and has supported and encouraged him at every turn, he said. He also enjoys his time as the leader of one of his church’s small groups. “I may get my priorities turned around every once in a while - in the wrong order like everyone does,” he said. “But, in the end, I’ve got ‘em straight and I am the most blessed person that I know.”
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
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CREC Research Update By Katie Snyder
In the continuing battle against Huanglongbing (HLB),
otherwise referred to as Citrus Greening Disease, the University of Florida/IFAS, Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) continues its quest to understand, and hopefully to manage, the disease. This has not been an easy task. Unlike citrus canker where the fruit is still useable for juice, citrus greening will eventually destroy the tree but not before producing inedible fruit that is immature, deformed, with altered juice quality. One of the many soldiers in this war on citrus greening is Rhonda Schumann, Senior Chemist. Working with Dr. Michael Rogers in the entomology department, Rhonda has the task of coordinating research efforts and activities of postdoctoral associates, graduate students, and other staff members. The team members have been conducting research in the areas of development and investigation of different control strategies for the insect, the Asian citrus psyllid. Proven in previous research, the Asian citrus psyllid (also known as a vector) transmits the HLB bacterial disease from tree to tree. “Our program,” explained Rhonda, “tests different insecticides and application techniques. We are also studying how the acquisition and transmission of the HLB bacteria by the insect vector occurs.” HLB bacteria are the causal agents of citrus greening disease. Other major areas researched in the lab are the seasonality of the insect vector and its rate of transmission of the bacteria, in addition to alternative techniques for control of psyllid and the effects nutrition has on disease symptoms and the host plant effects on psyllid fitness. As lab manager, Rhonda coordinates activities between field and lab research, as well as other requests from labs on the Center and conducts testing herself. Her specialty within the lab is testing the efficacy (toxicology) of insecticides. She also performs DNA extractions on the psyllid and plant tissue for detection of HLB bacteria. Once the DNA is extracted from either psyllid or plant tissue, Rhonda uses real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for detection of HLB bacteria DNA. She then processes and analyses the collected data. When asked her favorite part of her job, she replied “The method development and protocols for detection of specific pesticide residues.” “Working in both the groves and the lab has advantages. We can observe firsthand the effect of our testing and studies,” explains Rhonda. “What a great program and bunch of folks I work with. And it has been a privilege to work at the largest research center in the world devoted solely to citrus and dedicated to serving the citrus growers.” Rhonda, born in Athens, Georgia, knew early in her life that she wanted to be a chemist. She attended the University of Georgia where she earned her Bachelor degree in Plant Pathology and her Masters degree in Soil Science with emphasis on soil chemistry. Her Masters thesis centered on heavy metal contamination in soils and the uptake of those metals by crops. Before coming to Florida, Rhonda lived in the KwaZulu Natal Province of South Africa. She held two different positions while living in South Africa, the first was as an Operations Manager for a commercial analytical chemistry laboratory that was an ISO9000 certified
facility. Rhonda then took a position as a chemical research officer for the South African Sugar Association where she studied the chemical and physical impacts of sugarcane monoculture on soils. Arriving in 2001 with her husband, Dr. Arnold W. Schumann (also employed by CREC as a research faculty member) and daughter, Sylvia, Rhonda was hired at CREC by toxicologist Dr. Herbert N. Nigg, as his Senior Chemist in the entomology department. Upon Dr. Nigg’s retirement in 2006, Rhonda was transitioned to Dr. Roger’s lab.
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
11
TAMPA BAY’S FISHING REPORT
By Captain Woody Gore
BLUEFISH...Hard Fighting, Fast Action, Fun!
Looking for something different this summer? Try one of these “Bad Boys” on for size! One saltwater fish found throughout Florida, and providing some awesome light tackle angling thrills, is none other than the unwavering bluefish. Most Florida blues weigh in somewhere around two to six pounds and any over that are a real treat. A schooling fish with relatively large heads, powerful jaws and a mouth full of incredibly sharp teeth, their tapered bodies end in deeply forked tails making them powerful swimmers and fighters. They’re decorated with blue/green backs, silvery sides, and white/silver bellies, but don’t sell them short, these beautiful fish have plenty of muscle and speed. Rigging for Blues is much like rigging for any toothy fish. Wire leaders are a must or at least 60# or better Seaguar Fluorocarbon Leader with long shank hooks. When fishing live baits use a short piece of 60# Seaguar tied to your braid then
attach a 12 inch piece of 30# Tyger Leader (black or bronze) and a bright long-shank 1/0 Daiichi hook. I belly hook the greenback at the pectoral fin, cast it out and the blue’s take care of the rest. Fish can often be caught on any fast-moving lure resembling a baitfish, including metal spoons, jigs, and tube baits. If you like artificial’s try a shinny spoon or old topwater lure tied to your braid with a dark wire leader. Make sure it’s an old lure because you might not get it back. You might also try trolling on these hot, humid, no wind days. Once you hook-up, stop and start fan casting around the area. The fish are there you just need to find them. It’s not uncommon to find schooling bluefish sharing the same bait schools as mackerel, ladyfish and jacks. If you’re using whitebait/greenbacks start by tossing a few around the area you are fishing. If bluefish are present it won’t take long to get them going. Keep the live chums going and the fish will usually stay within casting distance. If like using a fly rod, here’s your chance to tangle with a fish that gives no quarter. Extra strong leaders and larger flies that resemble the most popular regional baitfish will do the trick. If you like fishy tasting fish, bluefish are good table fare. I always bleed them immediately and put them in a slushy ice and water mixture. Fillet the fish, remove the bones and skin, cut into two inch strips, and deep fry. Serve with grits and tomato gravy and hush-puppies. For my fried fish and other recipes, visit my website – www.captainwoodygore.com.
SEPTEMBER FISHING REPORT-Tampa Bay
Snook season opens and as usual the action should be excellent. You’ll find plenty of big fish around bridges and passes, especially at night with free-lined baits like pinfish, greenbacks and jumbo shrimp. Fishing the flats around broken bottom potholes and mangroves will be good. For some exhilarating experiences try tossing a good topwater walk-the-dog lure. MirrOlure, High Roller, and Thunder Shad are excellent choices. If you’re not into artificial lures greenbacks always do the trick. However, this usually requires some experience throwing a net and a good circulating livewell. Early morning beach fishing
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
is also productive. You’ll find plenty of fish chasing bait in the surf. Try a shallow diving lure. If you’re looking for some late summer fun, particularly for the youngsters, take them snapper fishing. Not only are these fish fun to catch but they are great eating. Small free-lined greenbacks or pieces of fresh shrimp around markers, bridges or rock piles, will usually result in a limit of fish. If the tide is a little strong, add enough split shot to keep the bait down three to six feet. Don’t forget a chum bag. Here’s a tip: Put them on ice immediately. This makes them much easier to clean. It gels the fat in their stomach, keeping it from sticking to your knife. Tampa Bay is still loaded with plenty of threadfins and the mackerel and bluefish will be all over them. Mac’s and Blue’s are excellent targets this month. If you’re looking for awesome, light tackle action, this is it. Threadfins are everywhere but look around marker cans, range markers or shallow reefs. Anchor up current, toss out a few baits for chum, and throw to the striking fish. Redfish action will be steady with schooling fish moving around the area. Approach schooling fish carefully, you don’t want to split them into several groups because it’s often difficult to group them back up. Always pole or
slow troll to within casting distance, Power-Pole down and present a low profile by getting off the bow. Try to pick off fish at the outer edges and never cast into the middle of the school. Reds eat shrimp, greenbacks, and pinfish. If they’re not looking for live bait, cut bait might work. Trout fishing is always productive around lush grass flats. It takes moving water to get them eating, but when they start… its fish-on. Popping corks with artificial plastic tails or live shrimp will produce. If you’re watching a cork and it’s bobbing up and down that is usually a pinfish eating your bait. Trout snatch it under and keep it down.
If you’re interested in booking a trip, please call me at: 813-477-3814 or visit my website: CaptainWoodyGore.Com. Fishing Florida for over 50 years, I offer professionally guided fishing and teaching charters around Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Bradenton, Sarasota, and Tarpon Springs. If you want to catch fish, have a memorable adventure or perhaps learn some new fishing tips give me a call. I specialize in group and multi-boat charters. Tell me what you need and leave the rest to me. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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FCM Summer Update By Michael W. Sparks
I hope everyone in the Florida citrus industry
enjoyed a break after a hectic 2008-2009 season. I want to give you a quick update on some interesting developments that happened over the summer. In Washington, both the U.S. Senate and House had approved their versions of the Fiscal Year 2010 Agriculture Appropriations. The Senate bill included $45.687 million for USDA/APHIS to conduct Citrus Health Response Program (CHRP) activities, $200,000 to UF/IFAS-CREC for the critical continuation and expansion of vital Citrus HLB-Greening research and education, $2 million to USDA/ARS for Asian Citrus Psyllid/Citrus Greening Disease research. Also, the bill contained full funding of $200 million for the Market Access Program (MAP) and $34.5 million for the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program. The House version included $43.6 million in funding for CHRP, $1.217 million for Canker/Greening research at CREC and full funding of $200 million and $34.5 million respectively for MAP and FMD. A House-Senate conference committee will have to reconcile differences in the two versions of the legislation this fall and will hopefully produce a final version of the legislation to be approved by both Houses and sent to the President for his signature by the end of the year. In other summer news, Florida citrus HLB research is scheduled to receive $1.87 million as part of the 2009 Specialty Crop Block Grants. That’s nearly 46 percent of the $4.1 million that was available this round. If you’ll recall the Block Grant program was created by the 2008 Farm Bill and runs over five years. We are in year two. The $1.87 million should become available this fall to IFASCREC and USDA-ARS and will help relieve some of the pressure to fund disease research through grower box tax dollars (either FDOC or FCPRAC). Thanks to Commissioner Bronson for his leadership on this issue. Well another citrus season is right around the corner, so let’s all gear up to make it a successful one. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
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SEPTEMBER 2009
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R E C I P E S Spicy Snap Beans Ingredients • • • • • • • •
1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 sweet onion, julienne 1 pound snap beans, washed and snapped 1/4 cup sodium-free soy sauce 1 jalapeno, minced 2 tablespoons garlic, minced 1 tablespoon chili powder
Preparation
Place a large sauté pan on medium/high heat. Add sesame oil, olive oil and onion, jalapeno. Cook for 2 minutes. Then add beans, chili powder, garlic, and soy sauce. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Serve immediately. Yield: 6 Servings
Florida Snap Beans with Red Bell Pepper Ingredients • • • • • •
1 pound butter 2 teaspoons onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon yellow squash, diced 1 clove zucchini squash, diced 1 teaspoon green onions, thinly sliced
Preparation
Cut the snap beans into bite size pieces. Bring a mediumsized stock pot that is half full of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the snap beans and cook (about one to three minutes) until they turn bright green and are tender yet still crispy, because they will be cooked again. Drain the beans completely, and then dunk them into a bowl of ice water to completely stop the cooking process. After they have cooled off all the way drain them again and set aside for later use. In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Carefully add the bell pepper, cook for about one minute. Add the beans and cook for about one minute longer. Add the pepper flakes and garlic and continue cooking for another minute or until desired tenderness. Turn off the heat and then drizzle with the sesame oil and season to taste with the salt and pepper. Serve family style. Yield: 6 Servings
Recipes courtesy of Florida Department of Agriculture. 16
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
SWINE FLU NAME
BRONSON SAYS Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services
Commissioner Charles H. Bronson is asking public health officials, academics and the media to refrain from calling the current H1N1 influenza pandemic “swine flu” as the characterization is both inaccurate and contributing to the collapse of the pork industry throughout North America. Although health officials initially identified the outbreak as “swine flu” when it first emerged several months ago because of some common genes in the virus, they have subsequently determined that the outbreak is a new hybrid virus. “It is unfortunate that pork producers and processors have been impacted so negatively by the inaccurate characterization of this virus,” Bronson said. “But the fact is there have been no detections of swine flu in any swine herds in this country, and people cannot get this flu from eating pork.” Officials from the International Society for Infectious Diseases have stated “... since we know nothing of how this particular virus has gotten into the human population but there is apparently no history of swine exposure, it probably makes more sense epidemiologically to refer to this simply as H1N1 influenza virus.” Bronson said it is particularly important that the correct name of the virus is used now because news and general information about the virus are likely to increase as the country prepares for the H1N1 vaccine in advance of an expected resurgence of the virus. “Health officials have repeatedly stated that pork is safe to eat as there’s no threat to people from consuming properly handled and cooked pork,” Bronson said. “Yet the continued use of the incorrect term for the H1N1 virus contributes to a distorted perception of pork and unnecessary economic calamity for pork producers, processors and distributors.”
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
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I
remember my mother running me out of the house one time for having stinky feet. My old pair of tennis shoes was worn everywhere. After school I would play sandlot football and get hot and sweaty. This added fuel to the fire. In the summer I had to take my shoes off before coming into the house even though I took a good bath every night. It got so bad they made me take off my socks, too. I almost got a whuppin’ for untying my shoes in church one time. They were just loose enough to let enough of the odor out to annoy people. It got very apparent when everybody around me started to move away. I remember my mother was so embarrassed. I must admit it did stink. My sisters Nettie Mae and Betty Jean would always give me a dirty look and say “PU”…get away from me. I found that your dogs, piggies or tootsies, as they are called, get the smell from bacteria created when your feet get sweaty. Scientists says that the bacteria really get going if you don’t wear socks. The bacteria produce stuff called volatile sulfur compounds. Yuck, rotten eggs! Did you know jobs are available to smell? That’s right, some people get paid to smell. Clinical testing labs hire people to do this when they are testing new products. These professional “smellers” get to smell some of the sweet stuff like the fragrance of a new hair spray or perfume. Other times they may have to test, or smell, a new underarm deodorant. Imagine sniffling someone’s underarm to see if it works! One company hires body odor experts. Need a part time job? Every once in a while I’ll glance through the want ad section of the newspaper. Some are really hilarious. Check these out: Georgia Peaches-California Grown$1.00 a pound. Nice parachute-Used Once-Never Opened-Slightly Stained. American Flag with 60 Stars-Pole Included. For Sale-One large Sofa-Will seat the whole mob, and is made of 100 percent Italian leather. Joining Nudist ColonyWasher and Dryer for sale. Nordic Track $200-Hardly Used- Call Chubbie. Open House-Body Shapers Toning Salon-Free Coffee and Donuts. And finally, For Sale By Owner-Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica. 45 Volumes. Excellent condition. $900.00 or best offer. No longer needed. Got married last weekend. Wife knows everything.
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O.K., I have finally found out how you know you are getting old! Here they are, 26 solid reasons: 1. When you and your teeth no longer sleep together. 2. You try to straighten out the wrinkles in your stockings and discover you aren’t wearing any. 3. At the breakfast table you hear snap, crackle, pop and you’re not eating cereal. 4. Your back goes out, but you stay home. 5. When you wake up looking exactly like your driver’s license picture. 6. It takes two tries to get up from the couch. 7. When your idea of a night out is sitting on the patio. 8. When happy hour includes a nap. 9. When you’re on vacation and your energy runs out before your money does. 10. When you say something to your kids that your mother said to you, and you always hated it. 11. When all you want for your birthday is to not be reminded of your age. 12. When you step off a curb and look down one more time to make sure the street is still there. 13. Your idea of weight lifting is standing up. 14. It takes longer to rest than it did to get tired. 15. Your memory is shorter and your complaining lasts longer. 16. Your address book has mostly names that start with Dr. 17. You sit in a rocking chair and can’t get it going. 18. The pharmacist has become your new best friend. 19. Getting “lucky” means you found your car in the parking lot. 20. The twinkle in your eyes is merely a reflection from the sun on your cataract. 21. It takes twice as long to look half as good. 22. Everything hurts, and what doesn’t hurt, doesn’t work. 23. You look for your glasses for half an hour, and they were on your head the whole time. 24. You sink your teeth into a steak, and they stay there. 25. You give up all your bad habits and you still don’t feel good. 26. You finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart. Let me leave you with this story about why things are not always what they seem. I have no idea who wrote it, or where I got it. For some reason years ago I saved it. Perhaps to be printed in this magazine. Continued on next page
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion’s guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, “Things aren’t always what they seem.” The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night’s rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die! “Things aren’t always what they seem,” the older angel replied. “When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn’t find it.” Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren’t always what they seem.” Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don’t turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later.
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Gentle
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GARDENING Tip of the Month: Growing Roses in West Central Florida By Craig and Lynda Chandler
Fertilize plants several times during their active growing season Any complete fertilizer, such as a 10-5-10 or 8-4-8, will work. A formulation that contains micro elements and some slow release or water insoluble nitrogen is preferred. Follow the directions on the bag or box concerning the amount to apply. Control spider mites and insect pests Spider mites and insect pests generally cause sporadic problems, so only take action when they are causing damage. Chilli thrips (so named because this insect was first identified on chilli pepper plants) is a new and potentially serious pest on roses in west central Florida. The most noticeable symptom of a chilli thrips infestation is malformation of newly expanding leaves. Abamectin, acephate, imidacloprid, and spinosad are common active ingredients in products sold to control
Roses appeal to the human senses of sight and smell to a greater extent than perhaps any other class of flowers. They come in a wide range of colors, from pale yellow to brilliant orange, and can be breathtaking in a mass planting or a fresh flower arrangement. Most roses grown in gardens today are varieties that have resulted from planned breeding efforts by nursery companies that specialize in roses. Roses can be grown in practically any environment, but they do require some specialized care in west central Florida. Listed below are the key steps to growing roses in this area. Follow them and you will be richly rewarded. Control black spot disease This is probably the most important single thing gardeners can do to ensure the long-term health and vigor of their bushes. Symptoms of the disease are circular black spots on the leaflets. The spots generally have a yellowish halo and are about a quarter inch in diameter. Black spot disease causes premature death of leaves, which results in loss of bush vigor and poor flowering. Black spot is a fungal disease that is readily spread from leaf to leaf by splashing water (i.e., rain or sprinkler irrigation). Control of this disease consists of thoroughly spraying the leaves (both upper and lower surfaces) and stems with a fungicide every 7-10 days during the rainy season. Fungicides containing chlorothalonil, mancozeb, or ziram can be used regularly without much risk of the black spot fungus becoming resistance to the fungicide. Plant only bushes that are grafted onto Rosa fortuniana, a rose species whose roots are well adapted to subtropical soil conditions Roses on Fortuniana rootstock tend to be vigorous, so a four to five foot spacing between plants is advised. Plant the bushes in a location that receives full sun, or nearly full sun, all day. Containerized plants can be planted anytime of the year, but late fall is a particularly good time to plant roses because this gives them time to get established before the major flowering period begins in the spring. Water bushes thoroughly once or twice a week during dry periods – especially in the spring, summer, and fall. Also, a two to three inch layer
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mites and insect pests on roses. Be sure to read and follow all label directions when using pesticides. If you’re not certain what pest is causing a problem, call your county extension office and ask to speak with a master gardener. He or she will be able to help you or can refer you to a local rose expert who can. Prune bushes in late January or early February This consists of removing one third to one half of the top growth, as well as any dead or twiggy stems. Light pruning can be performed during the growing season to reduce the length of excessively long stems and to remove senescent flowers (a practice known as deadheading). Choose varieties that bloom repeatedly through the growing season New varieties are constantly being developed and offered for sale, but you might want to start with varieties that have a history of success in Florida. Varieties that have withstood the test of time include the following (flower color is in parenthesis): ‘Mr. Lincoln’ (red); ‘Gold Metal’ (yellow); ‘Tiffany’ (pink); ‘Angel Face’ (lavender) and ‘John F. Kennedy’ (white). For mass plantings, consider ‘Iceberg’ (white); ‘Belinda’s Dream’ (pink); and ‘Knock Out’ (red). Both ‘Belinda’s Dream’ and ‘Knock Out’ are resistant to black spot. ‘Don Juan’ (red) is considered the best climbing rose variety for Florida. Climbers require support and are used to cover a wall, fence, or trellis. Lynda and Craig Chandler both have degrees in horticulture from the University of Florida, and have been caring for a residential landscape in Temple Terrace for more than 20 years.
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Farm Labor in Polk County By Anita Whitaker
As the largest citrus producing county in the state,
Polk County relies heavily on farm labor but companies find it hard to locate local employees prepared to perform the physical aspects of most of these jobs. Because of this, they have come to rely on foreign workers through a specially created plan called the H-2A Program. However, the rules and regulations surrounding those workers through the Program are stringent and often nearly impossible to meet. The H-2A Program was created to provide seasonal and temporary labor to the United States workforce without adding permanent residents to the population. Temporary visas are issued to workers in other countries who then travel to the United States to work for a specified employer. “The rules and regulations are strict and expensive for growers to accomplish,” said Heather Nedley, executive director, Polk County Farm Bureau. The program is managed by three federal agencies, the Department of Labor, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Department of State. In order to be considered as an employer of these workers, companies must certify that U.S. workers are not available to perform the work and that they will meet wage and working conditions set forth in the program guidelines. “As growers we are trying to do the right thing by bringing to the United States a legal, solid and reliable workforce,” said Bo
Bentley, President of Overlook Harvesting Company, Inc. “We are working to follow the strict government requirements but in the process are being hindered in our ability to meet them because of our local government.” The program includes rigorous standards for selecting and housing temporary foreign workers for farm labor. Overlook Harvesting has sought approval to build new housing in Polk County but was denied. Neighbors who live near the proposed housing location organized a grassroots effort opposing the project and were successful. After this project was denied, the Board of County Commissioners appointed a task force to review the land development code and draft changes to meet the needs of the industry and concerns of the citizens. Bentley and nine others, including people on opposing sides of the issue, make up the Farm labor Housing Task Force. The task force has met more than 20 times over the past 18 months to discuss the many facets of housing for the industry and how to meet the public’s concern for these proposals. “I know it is a hard political decision (for the BoCC), but, on the other hand, I encourage everyone to embrace the solutions that we came up with as a committee – something we feel is workable for everyone,” said Vic Story, President, Story Citrus, Inc. and a member of the Task Force. Farm Labor-Continued on page 25
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SEPTEMBER 2009
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Cool Season Annuals in the Land of Plastic Flamingos & Snowbirds By Dr. Geoffrey C. Denny, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Environmental Horticulture-Commercial Landscape Management Fall…while the rest of the country is unpacking cardigans and bracing themselves for the onset of winter, we hardy few who live in Florida year round begin bracing ourselves for nighttime temperatures in the lower 60’s and the annual migration of the blue-haired snowbirds. The approach of winter means more than sloooooow moving Cadillacs and sweat-less days, it also means it’s time to replace those heat exhausted summer annuals with cheerful cool season color. Here are a few tips to help you make sure that the cool season color you pick looks great this snowbird season.
last season, the critters and germs that plagued you last year might not be a problem this time around. More Information Most county extension offices offer information and advice on bedding plant selection and maintenance. To find you local county extension office, or for more information, visit soultionsforyourlife. ufl.edu. For UF guidelines on selection, planting and maintenance of bedding plants visit edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG319.
“Concentrate to Conserve” As budgets get tighter and we are expected to do more with less, we must do as my fellow plant geek, Rick Kelly, says and “concentrate to conserve.” This doesn’t mean that if we think about it really hard, our problems will all be solved. It means that if we put all of our color in a few, highly visible places, rather than scattered throughout the landscape, they will be easier and cheaper to maintain. Annuals generally require more attention and inputs than many of the other parts of the landscape. If you only have a few smaller beds of annual color, you only need to use the extra fertilizer, pesticide, water and labor on those targeted areas. This helps save time and money, as well as reduce the potential for environmental impacts. Focus on placing color in areas that people will be walking or driving directly towards -- that way they will be looking right at them. If you position these beds in these highly visible places, like entrances to parking areas and buildings, you will get more “bang for your buck.” More than Just a Pretty Flower My dad always told me not to marry a girl just because she was pretty, because “you’ll have to live with her, not just look at her.” That idea applies to cool season annuals as well. Not all bedding plants perform well here in Florida. There are often big differences among cultivars in performance, as well as pest and disease resistance. Many of the problems with growing cool season annuals can be avoided by doing your homework and selecting cultivars that will do well here. A good place to look for performance information on bedding plants is the University of Florida (UF) Trial Garden website (http://trialgarden. ifas.ufl.edu/fielddays.htm). Snapdragons are sooo 1983! Just because your “Magnum, P.I.” style short-shorts still fit, it doesn’t mean you should wear them out in public. Using the same old pansies every year is not a good idea either. Crop rotation is an important and effective way of reducing pest and disease pressure in your color beds. Different species of bedding plants are susceptible to different pests and diseases. If you select a different species this year than you used
RESEARCH INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
23
Business UpFront By Nick Chapman
From your front lawn to the south 40 acres, MST Sod
Equipment of Lakeland has the machinery and service for all your lawn, farm and pasture maintenance needs. MST offers parts, sales and service on all the lines they carry. “We’re family owned. My wife and I own it, and son and his wife work for us. When we say personal service, we mean personal service all the way, from sales to financing to parts to pulling the engines,” said Lonnie Bertsch, owner of MST Sod Equipment. They have been servicing Florida sod farmers and Polk County residents for 18 years. “We started initially in 1991 at my house selling and manufacturing parts for the truck industry, mostly sod growers, all over the state. We picked up a couple of major lines of sod harvesters and mowers, but our biggest business was parts and service for the sod industry. At one time we serviced everything from I-10 south.” On a typical day, Lonnie spends most of his time on the road going from farm to farm, taking inventory out of his truck and putting it on the customer’s shelves and stocking their shelves just to keep them going. In 2002, they outgrew the 40’ by 60’ building they worked at in his backyard, and they purchased the larger building they’re in now. That move enables them to store and showcase the equipment that is now on display in their yard for purchase, and to expand their parts and service capabilities. In the first of 2009, they took on the Bobcat compact tractor and utility vehicle line. The Bobcat compact tractor line is extremely versatile and affordable for a small farmer, and can be complimented with various attachments including a loader, rotary cutter, box blade, mower, backhoe and more. The utility vehicles come in 4x4 or 4x2, and are great for work or recreational use. They come in models that will transport two to four people, and are available in custom camo coloration. They offer diesel and gasoline engines, as well as all aluminum frames, and they offer an electric lift bed for
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easy hauling and dumping. In addition to the Bobcat line, they carry Modern Equipment, which is a line of galvanized bush hog style mowers, box blades and attachments built in Texas. “We wanted to do things a little out of the box, and a lot of people are handling bush hogs and box blades, and we weren’t going to carry them until we came across this galvanized line of equipment. This is a real value, because a lot of the other style equipment just rots and rusts away.” They also carry Progressive Turf Equipment, which produces everything from 60” grooming mowers up to 36’ sod mowers for the sod fields. Additional lines include the Texas Sod Harvester and WMI Sod Equipment. The Texas Sod Harvester models cut and harvest slabs of sod. MWI Sod Equipment has harvesters that roll the sod which is a current popular trend. “It’s a lot less labor intensive and you can get more done quicker.” When asked about any current trends, Lonnie commented, “We’re still seeing activity in the home owner lines for small acreage, where manufacturers are promoting zero financing and free front-end loaders and things like that, trying to encourage property owners to buy tractors. Also we’ve seen things pick up a little with the introduction of some new lines of sod that are less water consumptive.” Lonnie has seen some of the local municipalities swapping out their St. Augustine for these new varieties. All the recent encouraging news on housing starts has everyone hoping for a brighter future. He also commented that a lot of homes have been on the market for a while and their lawns will need to be redone when the housing market rebounds, which is good for his clients, which will be good for him as well. Since the slowdown, they have limited their service area, and have endeavored to more fully service the folks of Polk County. “There are a lot of five and 10 acres tracks in this part of the country, and we’re trying to do things with them a little bit.” It is Lonnie’s
hope to cultivate a good working relationship with the local farmers, and show them the advantages of using the services offered by MST. “We’ve got some good mower lines and some good little tractor lines.” “We’re just a hometown dealership and we emphasize one-on-one service. With the Internet a lot of personal service has gone by the wayside in the parts industry, but we don’t want to see that. I guess I’m old fashioned, but that’s the way I’ve worked for years. We do 90 percent of our business right here in Polk County. We do the same, we try buying local, including local manufacturers. We have to help each other.” If you’d like to visit MST Sod Equipment, their business is conveniently located at 8110 U.S. 98 North, about 4.5 miles north of I-4 in Lakeland. You can reach them at (863) 8534247.
Farm Labor-Continued on page 25
The Task Force created the “Proposed Farm Labor Housing Amendment to Polk County Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code.” The proposal “raises the bar” in housing standards and ensures compatibility with adjacent land uses in urban and rural settings and eliminates the need of the public hearing process, which is inconsistent with Florida law. The Task Force’s proposed changes to the land development code were voted on by the Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday, September 2. “The proposed changes are above the standard that growers have to currently meet,” Story explained. The H-2A Program also ensures numerous requirements are met such as (but not limited to) transportation, meals, workman’s compensation insurance and much more. Also, although workers are paid by the piece, they are still guaranteed a daily pay rate higher than minimum wage. “The economy in Mexico is terrible and this is a huge opportunity for them to earn a very good wage, work and be able to send money back to their families,” Bentley said. Story said his company is fortunate because their workers, for the most part, have been with them for years. But understands the situation that other growers are finding themselves in – one that if not remedied could place many citrus operations in jeopardy. “These growers are responsible. When you talk about the Bentley’s and the Dundee Citrus Growers of the world, they are doing the right thing,” Story said. “We need to make this program practical because overall it is an asset to the community and the entire state.” Applicants apply for the temporary visa in Mexico and then must pass an interview and background check. If they pass they then must be hired by an American company and follow strict rules and regulations while working here. They are only allowed to stay during the harvesting season and they are transported back to Mexico. “The difference with these workers is that they have to follow guidelines,” Bentley said. “If they create any problems or get into trouble they lose their jobs and are sent back to Mexico.”
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Fresh. Florida. Food. Publix Super Markets to promote Florida’s early spring fresh produce harvest Fresh Florida produce
items will take center stage in Publix Super Markets in early spring when they will be featured during in-store “Simple Meals” cooking demonstrations throughout the Southeast, and in Publix Cooking Schools in five cities. A variety of Florida produce items will be featured at various times from February 1 to May 21, 2010. Each Florida product will be part of the “Simple Meals” cooking demonstration for three to four days in all Publix stores. During these demonstrations, recipe brochures will be displayed at the “Simple Meals” kiosk and in the produce department with the featured Florida products. Additionally, Florida Culinary Ambassador Justin Timineri will host the five Publix Cooking Schools, which will teach participants handling and preparation techniques for the featured Florida products. “We’re very pleased to again partner with Publix to promote Florida-grown products,” Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson said. “This is an exceptional opportunity to highlight Florida’s earlyspring harvest of fresh produce.” Publix and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have a history of partnering to promote Floridagrown agricultural products. Previous collaborations have included in-store product demonstrations and advertising displays, distribution of product and recipe brochures, and retail incentive programs. The Florida spring produce promotion is part of the Department’s ongoing “Fresh from Florida” marketing program which helps promote Florida-grown products to
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Continued from previous page
consumers. “Simple Meals� and the Publix Cooking Schools are components of Publix’s “Aprons� program that helps introduce consumers to products and teaches them easy ways to prepare wholesome and delicious meals. Cooking and taste-testing demonstrations are conducted at the “Simple Meals� station in every Publix Super Market. Recipe cards for the featured meal are displayed in each store along with all the ingredients. The “Simple Meals� associate prepares the recipe, gives out samples to shoppers, and answers questions. The “Simple Meals� program is a service provided by Publix to help customers save time making meals at home.
The Publix Cooking Schools, which are located in Jacksonville, Tampa, Sarasota, Boca Raton and Atlanta, are designed to help beginners and experienced cooks alike expand their kitchen repertoire. Shoppers can register to attend the Publix Cooking Schools, which often feature noted chefs, authors and cooking celebrities. Publix is the largest supermarket chain in Florida and one of the 10 largest-volume chains in the United States. Its 2008 retail sales exceeded $23.9 billion. The company has 730 supermarkets in Florida, and almost 300 others in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee.
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First statewide small farms conference a big success, says UF expert
Dr. Dan Cantliffe giving a talk at the Small Farms Conference Story by Tom Nordlie, photos by Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS
The vast majority of Florida’s 47,000 farms
are classified as small by U.S. Department of Agriculture standards, but there’s been little opportunity for all the people behind those farms to get together and work toward common goals. That changed August 1-2 with the first Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference, a statewide event that was such a success, organizers plan to repeat it yearly, said Bob Hochmuth, a multicounty extension agent with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. More than 800 farmers and agriculture professionals attended the event, held at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee. “It shows that even in today’s economy, there is great interest among the small farmers in Florida to improving the things they’re doing on their farms,” said Hochmuth, who helped plan the conference. The event was hosted by UF/IFAS and Florida A&M University’s College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture. It featured more than 100 speakers, 30 educational sessions, networking opportunities, more than 80 exhibitions of new products and technologies, and livestock displays. Highlights included a welcome address from Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, an impassioned keynote speech from nationally known small farms authority John Ikerd, and presentation of Florida Innovative Farmer Awards to three attendees for developing and sustaining their small farm enterprises. Another detail that set this conference apart, much of the food served to attendees was prepared with items produced by Florida’s small farms. Food service was provided by the Osceola Heritage Park’s in-house caterers, who were not only cooperative, but also enthused about the project, Hochmuth said.
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Rick Lusher, director of the Florida Automated Weather Network, discusses the FAWN exhibit with visitors “They were amazed by how much high-quality food was available from small producers in Florida,” he said. “They really got into it.” The 2010 conference will probably take place in midsummer, again at Osceola Heritage Park, he said. Photos, videos and other material from the 2009 conference will be posted at the small farms Web site maintained by UF and FAMU at smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu. The site will soon include information about the 2010 conference, and contains helpful material for anyone operating or launching a small farm in Florida. For the latest demographic information on Florida’s small farms, see the recently published UF document, “Characteristics of Small Farm Operators in Florida: Economics, Demographics and Preferred Information Channels and Sources,” at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WC088.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
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Dr. Burns awarded ASHS Fellow, Class of 2009 Jacqueline
K. Burns, professor at the University of Florida, leads a large research team in the basic and applied investigation of citrus abscission, harvesting, and fruit postharvest biology with the twin goals of understanding the science of abscission and developing economically feasible mechanical harvesting of citrus. Burns received a BS (1978) and MS (1981) in Horticulture from University of Arkansas and a PhD in Horticulture from Pennsylvania State University (1986). In 1987 Burns was recruited to the University of Florida as an Assistant Professor, and became a Full Professor in 2000. She consistently provides research leadership in citrus abscission, harvesting, and postharvest physiology with the focus on identification of physiological and cultural determinants of citrus organ abscission and postharvest physiological disorders of fruit. Within her research program, Burns has developed international research collaborations with IATA and IVIA in Spain, the Max Planck Institute in Germany, and the Wroclaw University of Technology in Poland. Burns has also led the education and extension program, resulting in industry adoption of mechanical harvesting of juice citrus in Florida. Since 2000, Burns has procured $10,686,395 in research support, supervised nine postdoctoral scientists, five graduate students, applied for five patents, with two received thus far, and has published 36 refereed and 27 non-referred papers, and 33 abstracts and made 49 invited or contributed national and regional presentations. She received Best Paper Awards from both ASHS (2004) and FSHS (2004) and the ASAE Honorable Mention Paper Award (2001). She is an active participating member of ASHS, ISHS, ASPB, AAAS , FSHS, and ISC. She has also served on USDA, NRI, and SBIR grant panels. In 2008, Burns was appointed Associate Center Director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, Florida, and was invited to participate in LEAD21 training, a program that grooms the leaders within the UF College of Agriculture.
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Are You Involved with Agriculture in Polk County? Then you should be a member of Polk County Farm Bureau... Protecting and promoting Polk agriculture since 1942
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Kelley’s APIARIES By Kayla Lewis
“I’m an outdoorsy person, you have to be an outdoors
person to want to do this,” said Bert Kelley, owner and operator of Kelley’s Apiaries. His business is comprised of a system of apiaries throughout western Polk and eastern Hillsborough counties, as well as a store located off of Old Highway 37 in south Lakeland. Among the items sold at Bert’s store is honey, from both Bert’s apiaries and other beekeepers, royal jelly, propolis, and California high-desert pollen. In addition to selling honey and other bee related products, Bert and his niece Kelley McKinnes, who works with him, sell bee supplies to hobby beekeepers. Bert is also involved in crop pollination. Besides beekeeping and selling honey and other items, Burt explained that “We also are packing on a small scale.” Connected to the store is a small warehouse that is used for bottling honey. Bert explained that in the warehouse they can package honey from a two and a-half ounce bottle to a 55 gallon drum. Keeping bees and transitioning them from one crop to another is not an easy task. “We move the bees,” Bert said, “they go from crop to crop.” The different crops include orange blossom, gall berry, palmetto, and wildflower. Bert said that, “Some of them go up to north Georgia for the summer, and come back in September for fall wildflowers.” The fall wildflowers are Brazilian Pepper, Spanish Needle, Golden Rain
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
Tree, and Goldenrod. In crop pollination Bert explained that, “ We typically do blueberries, strawberries, cucumbers, melons, and squash.” “Occasionally I’ve gotten called for eggplant,” he added, and went on to say that he even does crop pollination at farms that grow different varieties of produce at the same time. With the differing seasons and crops that bees can pollinate and produce honey for, they have to be transported. “We load the hives in the evening,” Bert said, “Most of the bees that have settled on the truck have to be netted.” He said that the only time the bees can be moved without being netted is on short trips at night. Once a hive arrives at a field, where the hive is placed can become tricky. “It’s best for the crop if bees are settled in the field, but you can’t do that with most fields, you have to find and produce space. Most of the time they’re on the edge of the field,” Bert said, and added that, “They’ll fly to the field if some thing’s are there.” Bert explained that he started beekeeping as a hobby in 1980. “ I got bit by the bug,” he said. In 1979 he visited a friend who kept bees, and loaned him a book about them. “My first bee hive,” Bert said, “was a birthday present from my mother.” From there his interest grew. “Once I started keeping bees I was like, ‘Oh, what’s that bee working on.’ I had to get a reference. I really got into it and studied a lot.” Bert Kelley-Continued on next page
Bert Kelley-Continued from previous page Today, not only does Bert keep bees, but he is also active within the local bee community. He is currently treasurer of the Florida State Bee Keepers Association, a position he has held for many years, and was even at one point president of the organization. Bert is an active member of the Ridge Beekeepers Association that meets at the Agriculture Center in Bartow on the fourth Monday of each month, and is also a member of the Tampa Bay Beekeepers Association. Besides his involvement in various associations, Bert also participates in an agricultural festival that takes place in Bartow. As a part of the beekeeping community Bert discussed some of the issues that beekeepers face. He explained that the State Bee Inspection Service tests a certain percentage of beekeepers hives to ensure that a hive is not infected with disease or is carrying an invasive breed of bees. “If you’re keeping bees you’re supposed to be registered,” Bert said. “They have a formula so they can get a representative sample, theoretically they’re supposed to inspect everyone.” Bert explained that they’re trying to prevent the spread of African bees from taking over the current bee population. African bees, he said, are more defensive than European bees, and that if left unchecked a queen bee could mate with an African bee causing the entire hive to eventually contain a colony of African bees. Bert said that the honey from an African bee hive was no different than a European bee hive, but since the African bees were more defensive they were harder to manage. To prevent this from happening he explained, “We have to buy queens from queen breeders who don’t have the African gene.” Bert also said that one way to change a bee colony that was showing characteristics of African bee was to put a new queen into the hive. He went on to say that the State Bee Inspection Service has a set of practices, called Best Management Practices, that beekeepers are supposed to follow to keep a hive from becoming an African bee colony. Bert enjoys keeping bees, and how beekeeping opened up other interests, such as leaning about the different plants that bees pollinate and produce honey from. He said, “It just opened up a whole realm of things that I wouldn’t have had any interest in.”
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
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CITRUS SECTION
A D V E R T O R I A L
The Word Is Good On CS 2005 Word of mouth spreads fast when products perform at the level of Magna-Bon’s CS 2005 liquid formulation of copper. Growers, consultants, and applicators agree that Magna-Bon’s CS 2005
is the right formula for canker and other citrus diseases traditionally targeted with copper applications. CS 2005 is completely water soluble, thereby eliminating nozzle wear and improper calibration. Many copper products are in a powder form, bulky, dusty, and must be under constant agitation. Others are coppers in suspension, also needing constant agitation. Magna-Bon CS 2005 is copper in solution, and no agitation is needed.
“Being completely water soluble, CS 2005 seems like it gets in the leaf quicker than a powder copper,” he says. “If we get a rain, the powdered formulations of copper are more likely to wash off.” Other benefits that Cheshire likes about CS 2005 is the product has less metal content than the powder products, but as he says, “does as good or even better job.” According to Magna-Bon, currently available copper bactericides and fungicides have up to 22.7 bioactive units of copper per unit volume, while CS 2005 has 50,000 bioactive units of copper per gallon. This makes CS 2005 do more with less copper applied per unit. In addition to canker, Cheshire says in the summer he advises split applications of CS 2005 for greasy spot with good results. Best of all, he adds that CS 2005 “is very cost effective” for his orangegrowing customers.
Good Results In The Grove
Since receiving EPA registration for use as a bacterial fungicide on citrus, word has spread on the attributes of this unique product. Clewiston grower Bobby McDaniel has had success with CS 2005 on his 1,000acre citrus operation. “We’ve had canker issues for several years now,” says McDaniel. “But we’ve seen very good canker suppression with CS 2005. We’ll apply it three to four times a year, maybe more if we get conditions right for canker spread.” McDaniel adds the product is convenient to use because it piggybacks well with other applications being made on the farm including nutritional and insecticidal applications. His consultant, J.T. Cheshire, agrees on the strong performance of CS 2005 against canker on McDaniel’s groves and others he looks after. “CS 2005 does an excellent job suppressing canker in oranges,” says Cheshire. “We’ve used it religiously on Bobby’s farm, and I’ve seen good results in a few groves around Arcadia that I work.”
Coming Soon...Special Sections S EXPO WRAP
2009 CITRU
UP
I A L R T O R A D V E
on the Web can be found information ics.com or by calling Complete hemicalDynam site at www.C 2009 CITRUS EXPO WRAP UP 813-752-4950.
namics Chemical Dy First s Chemical Dynamics Puts Grower Puts Growers First ics offers a variety
Chemical Dynam just chemicals,
More than s. to their grower
Complete information can be found on the Web site at www.ChemicalDynamics.com or by calling 813-752-4950.
of services
e Plant City
resident
er by long-tim producoffers More thaninjust 1973 chemicals, Chemicaldent Dynamics a variety of services
a major, indepen ts in Florida ics wastofounded to become their growers. fertilizer produc has grown Chemical Dynam liquid foliar Carson and
®
A D V E R T O R I A L
BUSINESS
.
and W.B. “Hap” are demicronutrients t formulations States. Dynamics g Chemical of foliar appliedstern United differen was founded includin in 1973 by long-time Plant City resident of crops and over 70 t lines and the southea W.B. “Hap” Carson wide range produc major, independent producer needs on aand has grown to become a tion nalapplied Their branded of foliar nutritio crops. micronutrients and liquidproduc foliar fertilizer products in Florida meet specific ntals, field, and row reach their and signed growers States. ® to les, ornameand the southeastern ment, testing, leaf d to help United citrus, vegetab they do is designe Their branded s for develop and product lines andtesting over 70 different formulations are deory facilitie Everything cture. Soilneeds on a wide te laborat signed to meet specific nutritional range of crops including have comple produc ts they manufa cies. goals. They citrus, vegetables, nal deficien ornamentals, field, and row crops. of all the pinpoint nutritio quality control available toEverything they do is designed to help growers reach their production also analysis are goals. They have complete laboratory facilities forfield development, testing, and Two of the any of all theis their people. quality control Comp products they ing manufacture. regions of Soil testing and leaf Make the Dynamics le produc analysis Chemic are al also available ng up a few The Peoplestory behind to pinpoint vegetab Cain. nutritional citrus and ® is roundi and Justin deficiencies. The real reps for the isers. Kenneth Parker g Hillsborough Florida are herd new advert is a life-lon graduate and Thecentral People Make the Company h Parker good hands to Southern He is TheKennet real story behind Chemical Dynamics t, a Florida is their people. Two of the field Time ics since 1994. ull Dynam and County residenChemic al for tion) Time/F reps the citrus and Partregions certificavegetable producing of has been with Experience central(Florida Florida are Kenneth agriculture. Parker and Justin Cain. Crop Advisor Experience/No und in Florida their proba Certified e backgroKenneth Parker is a life-long Hillsborough solving extensiv and of has an growersresident, ® is rounding up a few pull a lot withCounty Florida Southern graduate and havesaid.a “I “Working all part sinceDo you lity hands has beenParker with Chemical ers. It’sDynamics I love doing,” 1994.A He is persona good custom to great herd new advertisers. my ing lems is what for • identify certification) and a Certified Crop Advisor samples new people problems by (Florida soil and leaf Youhas cananavoid That means • Like meeting Part extensive them. background a desk Time in Florida agriculture. Time/Full of the service. correcting ant to be tied to early and“Working with growers and solving their • Don’t w probdeficiencies dently Experience/No Experience lems is what I love doing,” Parker said. “I pull a Work • lot of indepen map. yields.” theleaf He gradusoilonand and better samples for my customers. It’s all part in yellow. ted in blue ted healthier crops Do you havey is highligh s highligh of the service. l We offer- earning for the countiehis main You can avoid problems by identifying Parker’s territor potentia is a field rep personality deficiencies early and correcting them. That means d • A great Florida and Unlimite Justin Cainhealthier of • ity ment state-ac and better yields.” Like meeting new people the Univers crops fun environ , • Cain is also tion. ated from • A positive Parker’s makes hisin blue on the map. territory .isHe highlighted citrus produc • Don’t want to be tied to a desk Advisor emphasis is d Crop Great training Justin Cain is Wales. a field rep for the counties highlighted in yellow. He• a Certifie graduLake • Work independently credited as ated from with ile goal of Florida identify County nearthe University and his main • A worthwh so I really home in Polk emphasis for Brent myself nt to have is citrus production. is also state-ac759-6909 Ask “I own groves “It’s importa Cain We offersaid. growth credited Cain as a CertifiedmCrop Advisor. Call today (813) ers,” optimu health, in mindHe makes his forCounty my custom home • Unlimited earning potential in Polk line Wales. near Lake nal levels 41 proper nutritio I always keep the bottom neededidentify with myself tssoare • A positive, I really fun 2009 But “I own groves produc ective SEPTEMBERenvironment evand yields. my customers,” Cain “It’sfirst, important to have t and cost-eff put grower thesaid. MAGAZINE• Great training too. Efficienproper you levels INTHEFIELD nutritional When for optimum health, growth ever. place.” • A worthwhile goal more than and yields. But I always keep the bottom line in mind just falls into erything else too. Efficient and cost-effective products are needed Call today (813) 759-6909 Ask for Brent more than ever. When you put the grower first, everything else just falls into place.”
WE DRIVE
WE DRIVE BUSINESS.
InTheField
InTheField
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
38
SEPTEMBER 2009
Be on the lookout for InTheField® magazine’s new Special Sections in future issues. These Special Sections will highlight citrus, horticulture, equine and cattle. Each section will feature news, advertorials and updates with regard to each commodity. For advertising information on this section, call (813) 759-6909.
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
Applicator’s Dream
Growers and crop applicators report that CS 2005 is much easier to handle than powder copper alternatives. Barry Keller, with Ag Sales Associates, says there are several benefits CS 2005 offers that makes his job as an applicator easier. “It is a lot easier to handle than the powder,” he says. “In its liquid form, you don’t have to worry with agitating because it mixes instantly. The CS 2005 doesn’t settle out like the powder copper. With the powder, if it settles, you’ve got to really agitate it to get it mixed back up. “Being a liquid formulation, it won’t clog up nozzles and is less corrosive. Our low-volume Curtec sprayer doesn’t have nozzles, but with CS 2005, we don’t have problems with residue buildup like we can with the powder formulations. With the liquid formulation, the spray coverage is a lot more even, because of how well it mixes with the water. It grabs right on to the leaf.” Keller reports very positive results using CS 2005 for canker and now other citrus challenges. “We started out applying CS 2005 more for canker, but what we’ve found out is that it will do a lot of the things that powder coppers will do, like control greasy spot,” he says. “All of that in a much easier to handle product.”
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
39
AG Sales Associates Inc. AG Sales Asssociates Inc. Distributor for
DISTRIBUTOR FOR TOL TOL
Chandler Chandler Spreaders Spreaders
Curtec Curtec Sprayers Sprayers Eye Systems Mid Tech or Dicky John System
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Eye Systems Mid Tech or Dicky John System Distributor for Magna-Bon CS2005 and Eradicator Call Barry Keller at
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40
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
®
CITRUS SECTION
A D V E R T O R I A L
Chemical Dynamics Puts Growers First
Complete information can be found on the Web site at www.ChemicalDynamics.com or by calling 813-752-4950.
More than just chemicals, Chemical Dynamics offers a variety of services to their growers. Chemical Dynamics was founded in 1973 by long-time Plant City resident W.B. “Hap” Carson and has grown to become a major, independent producer of foliar applied micronutrients and liquid foliar fertilizer products in Florida and the southeastern United States. Their branded product lines and over 70 different formulations are designed to meet specific nutritional needs on a wide range of crops including citrus, vegetables, ornamentals, field, and row crops. Everything they do is designed to help growers reach their production goals. They have complete laboratory facilities for development, testing, and quality control of all the products they manufacture. Soil testing and leaf analysis are also available to pinpoint nutritional deficiencies.
S.
WE DRIVE BUSINES
The People Make the Company
The real story behind Chemical Dynamics is their people. Two of the field reps for the citrus and vegetable producing regions of central Florida are Kenneth Parker and Justin Cain. Kenneth Parker is a life-long Hillsborough ® is rounding up a few County resident, a Florida Southern graduate and has been with Chemical Dynamics since 1994. He is good hands to herd new advertisers. a Certified Crop Advisor (Florida certification) and Part Time/Full Time has an extensive background in Florida agriculture. “Working with growers and solving their probExperience/No Experience lems is what I love doing,” Parker said. “I pull a lot of soil and leaf samples for my customers. It’s all part Do you haveof the service. You can avoid problems by identifying • A great personality deficiencies early and correcting them. That means • Like meeting new people healthier crops and better yields.” Parker’s territory is highlighted in blue on the map. • Don’t want to be tied to a desk Justin Cain is a field rep for the counties highlighted in yellow. He gradu• Work independently ated from the University of Florida and his main emphasis is citrus production. Cain is also state-acWe offercredited as a Certified Crop Advisor. He makes his • Unlimited earning potential home in Polk County near Lake Wales. • A positive, fun environment “I own groves myself so I really identify with • Great training my customers,” Cain said. “It’s important to have proper nutritional levels for optimum health, growth • A worthwhile goal and yields. But I always keep the bottom line in mind too. Efficient and cost-effective products are needed Call today (813) 759-6909 Ask for Brent more than ever. When you put the grower first, everything else just falls into place.” INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2009 41
InTheField
CITRUS SECTION
Greening Associated Nutrient Deficiency Syndrome By Timothy M. Spann and Arnold W. Schumann By now everyone is well aware of the confusion that can exist in trying to distinguish citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing) symptoms from nutrient deficiency symptoms. In fact, many papers describing the leaf symptoms of greening will often describe them as nutrient deficiency-like. In their respective reviews on greening, Jose Bové and John da Graça both indicate that as the disease progresses in a tree, symptoms of Zn deficiency will develop. However, Zn deficiency alone is not a good indicator of greening infection since it commonly occurs in uninfected trees and is quite distinguishable from the typical blotchy mottle of greening. Other micronutrient deficiencies, particularly B, cause symptoms that are frequently found on greening infected trees. In a paper from 1930, Haas described citrus trees with corking and splitting of leaf veins, abscission of leaves, and accumulation of excessive amounts of carbohydrates in affected leaves. One could easily believe he was describing greening symptoms, but he was actually describing B deficiency. The apparent connection between nutrient deficiency and greening is not new. During the 1970s two separate papers were published which showed that greening symptomatic leaves had lower levels of Ca, Mg and Zn compared to asymptomatic leaves. Over the past couple of years a number of IFAS researchers have confirmed these findings in greening infected trees in Florida. However, many questions surrounding the nutrient deficiency / greening connection remain, among them: Are these deficiencies real (i.e. do they limit plant growth and yield)? Does greening infection restrict or limit nutrient uptake and or transport? Can remedial applications of nutrients reduce yield loss and/or prolong tree life? This article’s authors have been working to answer these and other questions and have been funded by the box tax to continue these investigations. To date we have accumulated a substantial amount of data to answer the first question posed above, are these deficiencies real. Traditional leaf nutrient analysis reports nutrient levels on a dry weight basis; however, this may not provide accurate data when analyzing leaves from greening infected trees. Because greening leaves accumulate large amounts of starch their dry weight per unit of leaf area is naturally higher than a healthy leaf. Why does this matter? Starch is a carbohydrate and contains only C, H and O. Thus, when nutrient levels are examined on a dry weight basis the high starch content dilutes the nutrient levels. For example, let’s say a healthy leaf has a dry weight of 1 gram. If that leaf has a normal level of Ca (3.5%) it would contain 0.035 grams of Ca. Now let’s add starch to the same leaf and increase its dry weight to 1.25 grams. We haven’t added any Ca, only C, H, and O, so the leaf still has only 0.035 grams of calcium but 2.8% by dry weight which is in the low range. One way to correct for this anomaly is to express nutrient levels on a leaf area basis. Going back to the above example it is easy to see how simply adding weight to the leaf does not increase its area. The leaf thickness and weight per unit area may increase, but the total area does not. However, measuring leaf area prior to submitting samples to a lab for nutrient analysis is not practical for most growers. Another option for correcting for the dry weight change is to use DRIS analysis. DRIS, or Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System, was introduced in an article in last month’s issue of Citrus Industry. DRIS uses the ratio of one nutrient to another (e.g. N/P) to de42
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
velop nutrient indices. How does this help? Let’s go back to the earlier example again and add in a second nutrient, say Mg. If we assume our leaf started with a normal Mg level of 0.4% or 0.004 grams, then after the starch addition Mg drops to 0.32%. You can see that if we look at the ratio of Ca to Mg it remains the same (8.75) before and after the addition of the starch, because the additional dry weight is only affecting the percentage of the nutrients, not the actual contents in grams. So, are the nutrient deficiencies that have been reported based on dry weight real when examined by DRIS or on a leaf area basis? It depends on the nutrient. For example, in a recent analysis comparing symptomatic (blotchy mottle) and asymptomatic leaves from greening infected trees (PCR +) to healthy leaves from healthy trees (PCR −) changes in K, Mg, Ca and B were found to be consistent across analyses. Of these, K increased and the others decreased. Additionally, K and Ca showed intermediate changes in asymptomatic leaves, having levels midway between symptomatic and healthy leaves. Mg and B did not show this trend and were reduced by similar levels in both symptomatic and asymptomatic greening leaves compared to healthy leaves. Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe which were all significantly lower in greening infected leaves on a dry weight basis were not significantly different when analyzed on a leaf area basis or by DRIS. Research that is just getting underway at the CREC will look at these changes in more detail and try to separate out the nutrient deficiencies from greening symptoms by growing trees in hydroponics where nutrient levels can be easily monitored and altered. Additionally, post-doctoral research entomologist Antonios Tsagkarakis, working under the direction of Michael Rogers, will be studying how plant nutrient status affects psyllid feeding and reproduction. To the final question posed earlier, can remedial applications of nutrients reduce yield loss or prolong tree life, we still don’t have a clear answer. Maury Boyd, who has been making multiple foliar applications of micronutrients for some time now has been very cooperative in sharing data with IFAS researchers and allowing us to monitor yields in his grove. Overall, the yields in Mr. Boyd’s block in Felda have increased, despite significant greening infection. When we compared the yield on infected (PCR +) and healthy (PCR −) Hamlin trees this past December we found that the infected trees had significantly lower yield. However, the infected trees also had a much smaller canopy than the healthy trees and when yield was corrected for canopy size, there was no difference. Several things may be happening in this situation. The micronutrient applications may be improving the yield of the healthy trees, which is counteracting the yield decline of the infected trees, so overall the grove yields are being maintained. Also, the applications may be maintaining the yield of the infected trees, although they are not growing as well as the healthy trees so their canopy size (and yield potential) may not be increasing. The bottom line is that it will take several years of data, tracking the same trees, to know what is really happening. Several nutrient decreases (Mg, Ca, B) associated with greening infection are real when analyses are corrected for the increased starch content of infected leaves. It is likely that these changes are arising from nutrient uptake and/or transport restrictions caused by greening infection. However, it is unclear whether foliar remedial applications of these nutrients can reduce the affects of the disease. The ongoing research will give us these answers, but it will take time. Originally published in Citrus Industry magazine, May 2009
A Closer Look- The Cicada (Cicadoidea)
The Cicada
(Cicadoidea)
It’s disproportionately large eyes are often a shocking shade of red framed by equally cautionary shades of yellow and black. It is almost as if this creature plans it’s emergence to catapult us into the frightful activities of October. By Sean Green
They prepare for their emergence for up to 17 years.
Their multitudes overwhelm their predators. Their songs are among the loudest in the world. Their skeletal carapace and hideous adult manifestation are recognized throughout the world. It’s disproportionately large eyes are often a shocking shade of red framed by equally cautionary shades of yellow and black. It is almost as if this creature plans it’s emergence to catapult us into the frightful activities of October. These alien like characteristics hallmark a fascinating insect that we will see emerging this month, the Cicada (Cicadoidea). Cicadas live in temperate and tropical climates, easily identified by their large size and remarkable acoustic characteristics, Cicada have become the most widely recognized of all insects. There are more than 2,000 species of cicada worldwide, 19 species are common in Florida, none of which however pose a serious economic threat to our agriculture industry. In the past, one species, Tibicen davisi occasionally caused severe damage to asparagus fern (Asparagus plumosus) grown in ferneries for use by florists. Nymphs feeding on the roots greatly reduced crop yield or even killed the plants. Adults emerged, to mate in nearby woods and the females returned to the ferneries to lay their eggs. No such damage has been reported since the less susceptible Asparagus virgatum, replaced A. plumosus as a Florida crop. Cicadas are sometimes inaccurately called “locusts.” Early American settlers that witnessed mass emergence of Cicada may have been reminded of biblical plagues of locust leading an inaccurate identification of the species, a misidentification that has endured in some locations. Locust is in the order Acrididae, an order shared with grasshoppers and characterized by chewing mouthparts. Cicadas, however, are of the order Hemiptera, an insect classification based on the distinction of mouthparts that have evolved to pierce plant tissue rather than chew it. Cicada, like leafhoppers, feed on liquids such as xylem sap. All cicada nymphs live in underground burrows and feed on xylem sap from the roots of grasses, forbs, or woody plants. Xylem sap is low in nutrients, consequently, the duration of nymphal development ranges from a minimum of several years to as long as 17 years. All cicadas molt four times before emerging. When the last nymphal instar is ready to molt, it surfaces and climbs a short distance up a tree trunk or herb stem, fastening itself with its tarsal claws and molts for the fifth time to become an adult. Its remaining shell is a near perfect representation of its adult stage as hallmarks its transition from subterranean isolation to its lofty freedom of flight.
Most of the North American species and Florida’s most abundant is an annual species in the genus Tibicen. Commonly known as “dog-day” cicadas, Tibicen emerge in the “dog-days” of summer (July and August) characterizing summer itself with their song. In fact, Cicada songs are typically incorporated in Japanese anime to augment a summertime scene. In Florida we hear some species of Tibicen begin singing in late spring but most will begin this month and continue throughout the fall. Cicadas are among the loudest in the animal kingdom with some species producing sounds up to 120db (sound pressure level) which is roughly equivalent to a jackhammer at three feet, or a jet engine at 328 feet. The smaller species produce pitches that are completely out of human hearing range. Some cicada calling songs parallel the noises made by power tools and occasional reports that cicadas are attracted to lawnmowers and outdoor power saws are not surprising. The fact that attracted cicadas are invariably female supports the inference that common power tools are reminiscent of a calling male (at least to a female Cicada). One fascinating behavior of periodical Cicada, such as Magicicada, is predator satiation, an evolutionary adaptation characterized by brood occurring at population densities higher that the consumption potential of a predator, thus reducing the chance of individual prey consumption and increasing the potential for safe reproduction. Magicicada has a life cycle culminating in mass emergences every 13 or 17 years depending on the species. We do not have this periodical species in Florida, the closest occurrence of periodical cicada have a 13 year cycle and emerge in Southeastern Louisiana in 2015 and Alabama and Georgia in 2011. Unlike the broods of periodical cicadas, populations of Florida cicadas produce adults every year. The 19 species of Cicada common in Florida range in size from the small Melampsalta to the larger Tibicen. Even though Florida species emerge annually, their developmental cycles probably exceed a year. Our cicada species do not depend on mass emergences to overwhelm their predators, and are not likely to have a stringent duration of underground development like the periodical species. Take a closer look at this harmless and fascinating insect as they emerge this month.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Florida Avocado
Avocado: Better than Butter By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicine, B.S. Nutrition Science
The Florida avocado is a nutritional powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, and heart-healthy compounds. As the nation’s secondlargest producer of avocados behind California, Florida avocados are at their peak now. Compared to California varieties, Florida avocados have half the fat and one-third less calories, and are generally considered sweeter and lighter. The fat it does contain is the healthy monounsaturated type that lowers cholesterol levels and contributes to heart health.
Nutritional Profile
Avocados are creamier and less sweet than other fruits and are a good source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. Consumption of this type of good fat, touted in the Mediterranean diet, has been shown to decrease total and LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase healthy HDL cholesterol. In fact, eating the fat provided by avocados increases the body’s absorption of nutrients from other vegetables. So toss some avocado into a salad or salsa for a boost in nutrition. Avocados are also a good source of potassium, dietary fiber, folate, and vitamin E. Florida avocados are rich in phytochemicals, which are naturally occurring plant chemicals that support health and immunity. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of sliced avocado (146 g) contains 235.1 calories, 2.9 g protein, 21.4 g fat, 12.5 g carbohydrate, and 9.8 g of dietary fiber. It also provides 36.5 percent of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for vitamin K, 29.2 percent for dietary fiber, 25.0 percent for potassium, 22.6 percent for folate, and other valuable nutrients, including vitamin B6, vitamin C, and copper.
Vitamin K: For Healthy Blood and Bones
Leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale are well known as an excellent source of vitamin K, but avocados are also a good source of this vitamin. Vitamin K plays an important role in proper blood clotting, bone formation, and fighting cellular damage. Recent research has linked vitamin K with stronger bones. Women with higher blood levels of this vitamin had less bone fractures and greater bone mass than women with lower levels. Vitamin K may also be involved in the formation of cartilage and teeth. This important nutrient also functions as an antioxidant, protecting the body’s cells from free radical damage.
Fiber: For Weight Control & Satiety
Avocados contain a significant amount of dietary fiber, which can help lower cholesterol, assist with digestion, and prevent constipation. According to the American Institute for Cancer
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Research, a diet high in fiber may decrease the risk of several types of cancer including colon, rectum, breast, and pancreas. A single cup of sliced avocado provides a whopping 29 percent of your daily fiber needs. Fiber can also help maintain steady blood sugar levels and aid in weight control. Eating foods high in fiber, such as avocado, can help you feel fuller on fewer calories.
Potassium: For Heart Health
Avocados are high in potassium, a mineral that promotes healthy heart functioning and protects against high blood pressure. Potassium helps regulate fluids and mineral balance, aids in muscle contraction, and helps transmit nerve impulses. People with low potassium levels are more prone to muscle cramps. Fortunately vegetables and fruits, such as avocados, are a rich source of potassium.
How to Select and Store
Look for Florida avocados that have deep green skin and are free of blemishes. Inside, the flesh should range from pale to rich yellow. The avocado should feel heavy for its size and yield to gentle pressure. If you’re shopping in advance, you can also choose a hard, unripe fruit and allow it to ripen at room temperature for a few days. Speed up the ripening process by placing it in a paper bag with an apple or banana. Ripe avocados can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
How to Enjoy
Avocados are a buttery, creamy addition to anything from dips, dressings, sandwiches and salads. You can also slice them and eat straight out-of-hand. Here are some more ideas: • Spread on a bagel or toast as an alternative to butter • Puree in guacamole • Puree and add to salad dressing • Mash and spread on a sandwich, burger, or taco • Slice and add to sandwiches, salads, stir-fries and egg omelets • Toss in a fruit salad with melon and berries • Incorporate into ice cream or cheesecakes • Julienne and add to a California sushi roll Savor creamy, luscious Florida avocado today. With its rich texture and versatile uses, the avocado is a healthy addition to any dish.
Selected References
http://en.wikipedia.org/, http://www.ipmcenters.org, http://www.whfoods.com, http://www.florida-agriculture.com
Mulberry High Senior Wins Speech Contest Michelle Perez, 17, a Mulberry FFA Chapter member, is the 2009 Polk County Farm Bureau Youth Speech Contest Winner. The topic of the 2009 contest was, “What challenges will affect the sustainability of Florida Agriculture for the future?” Perez competed against 11 other FFA members from across the county in Bartow on September 1. Perez, a senior, is the President of the Mulberry FFA Chapter. She is involved in the FFA Chapter through various activities and competitions, including being the only female to receive a trophy in the whip competition at the Youth Fair and a top camper in the Forestry contest. Michelle is Treasurer of the National Honor Society, the Treasurer for Student Council and Junior Board, as well as a member of the Varsity Soccer Team and Cross Country team. She is a proud Girl Scout and has over 600 hours of Community Service. Along with all of this, she has maintained a job that she loves dearly at a horse riding stable, English Oaks. Each year the Florida Farm Bureau Federation sponsors a Youth Speech Contest, which begins at the county level. Michelle will compete in the district contest on September 10 and the winner of the district contest will compete in the state contest at Florida Farm Bureau conven-
tion October 28-30. The goals of the contest are to promote a stronger interest and clearer understanding of the many aspects of agriculture and to provide opportunities for youth to gain knowledge, appreciation, and understanding of agriculture. Polk County Farm Bureau promotes and protects Polk’s agriculture industry. Representing more than 5,000 family members and a $4.5 billion industry.
Polk County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting October 1st
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All Polk County Farm Bureau
members are invited to attend the 67th annual membership meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 1 in Bartow at the W.H. Stuart Center. Polk County Manager Michael Herr will be the guest speaker at the meeting. A Texas Cattle Company catered dinner will be served at 6:30 pm. Active members pay $5 each for two dinners. Associate members and others pay $15 each. The annual membership meeting will begin at 7 PM where new officers and directors will be elected. Mike Herr has been the county manager since 2003. During Mike’s tenure as County Manager, Polk, a 2007 “All-America County” has made great progress in meeting the challenges of growth – i m p rov i n g infrastructure, by addressing much-needed parks, roads, improving water/wastewater capacity and more. Additionally, the County has implemented several award-winning programs and innovative initiatives. “The annual meeting is a time to reflect on what we have accomplished over the past year, recognize industry leaders and provide our members with information,” said Kenny DeVane, PCFB president. In addition, PCFB will recognize the outstanding ag teacher and program for 2009 along with the Youth Speech Contest winner and 2009 scholarship recipients. Printed invitations will be mailed to all active PCFB members. Special thanks to the 2009 Annual Meeting sponsor, Riverside Bank. For more information about this annual event or other PCFB programs contact Heather Nedley in the Bartow office at 863-533-0561 or email info@pcfb.org, www.pcfb.org.
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We preserve the best of nature, to produce the best from nature. Enriching farmland is our labor and our love. We provide American farmers with nutrients to grow the food we need. But our work doesn’t stop there. After mining the natural phosphate needed to make our products, we reclaim the land for recreational and environmental uses. We bring more to your table, all while feeding the world responsibly. A better Florida and a better world www.mosaicfla.com
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Florida Trend Publisher Bruce Faulmann to Speak at Ag Institute Annual Meeting The Agriculture Institute of Florida will welcome Florida
Trend publisher Bruce Faulmann as keynote speaker for the organization’s 2009 Annual Meeting and Luncheon, set for Wednesday, October 28 at the Hilton Oceanfront Resort in Daytona Beach. New technology - and economic necessity - have brought about profound changes in the traditional media which have dramatically impacted how journalists work and how news is covered. In his presentation “Being Heard in a Changing Communications Landscape,” Bruce will offer insights on what these changes mean for agriculture, how the industry should be adapting, and will offer tips for getting our stories to the media and the public. “Fewer and fewer people seem to understand the tremendous contributions that agriculture makes to our communities, or how hard farmers work to be good environmental stewards while remaining economically viable,” said AIF president Betsy McGill. “It’s critical that we as an industry learn how people are communicating, how they’re receiving and sharing information, and how we can deliver our story effectively. Bruce’s expertise and long experience will provide invaluable insight into a rapidly changing industry.” Florida Trend is one of the most respected regional business magazines in North America. The magazine, its Web site and family of publications enjoy a prominent position, connecting with Florida’s most influential business, civic and government leaders since 1958. As Publisher, Bruce oversees all print and online operations, including circulation, editorial, marketing, sales and custom publishing. The Ag Institute will also review the activities of the association and will present the third annual AIF “AG-Vocate” award, recognizing an individual who has been an outstanding spokesperson on behalf of agriculture during the past year. This year’s AIF meeting will again be held in conjunction with the Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Convention. AIF annual meeting attendees are also invited to attend the Florida Farm Bureau conference (for more information, visit www.FloridaFarmBureau.org). The meeting will be held from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM and includes lunch, seating is limited and reservations are required. Cost is $50 per person or $350 per table of eight. For registration information, contact Betsy McGill at (863) 675-2144 or email info@ aginstitute.org. Since 1970, the Agriculture Institute of Florida has been dedicated to promoting the value of Florida agriculture and empowering producers to communicate effectively with legislators, the media and the public. AIF is a volunteer organization composed of communications professionals and individual members from private companies, agricultural associations and farms throughout the state.
For more information, contact your local animal health supplier or contact Greg Woodard mobile: (813) 918-2712 gregory.woodard@sp.intervet.com
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
47
COVER STORY
STORY BY JIM FRANKOWIAK
“We help the world grow the food it needs”
is the vision statement of Mosaic. That’s a significant challenge, but one that will be met. Just ask Howie Stoughton, manager of Mosaic’s South Fort Meade Mine of Mosaic. Yep, that’s Howie – not Howard or Mr. Stoughton and that’s the way he likes it. Head of the 28,000-acre operation, located in both Hardee and Polk counties, Stoughton oversees 270 employees who work 24/7 mining and processing phosphate rock, the raw material for phosphate fertilizer production. Mosaic is a young company, founded in 2004 when the crop nutrition business of Cargill, Incorporated and IMC Global Inc. came together to form the new entity. However, the combined strengths of the founding companies and their recognition as worldwide innovators in the crop nutrition industry have given Mosaic a highly regarded pedigree. It’s a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (Trading Symbol: MOS) with 2009 net sales of $10.3 billion, assets of $12.6 billion and approximately 7,400 employees worldwide. Mosaic is headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota, a northwestern suburb of Minneapolis. IMC was formed in 1909 when entrepreneur Thomas Meadows became involved in the phosphate mining business. By 2003, IMC Global had grown to become the world’s largest producer of phosphate as the company reported $2.2 billion in revenues. The crop nutrition business of Cargill, Incorporated was launched in the 1960s as the result of a grain backhaul opportunity. Product was needed to fill empty barges to make a profitable round trip, so Cargill, already a leading agribusiness company, decided to enter the crop nutrition business. The division grew to become one of the world’s top producers of phosphate and nitrogen fertilizer. Stoughton, originally from Canada, had been responsible for IMC’s mining operations and shortly after Mosaic was formed, he took over operation of the South Fort Meade mine. Mosaic-Continued on page 50
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mosaic’s south fort meade mine
helping the WORLD grow the FOOD it needs
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Mosaic-Continued from page 48 Though not the largest Mosaic phosphate mine, the reserves at South Fort Meade are some of Mosaic’s most cost-efficient to mine. The company has a global presence with distribution facilities in 10 countries, serving customers in more than 40 countries around the world. Key Mosaic production areas include potash, phosphate – both of which are vital crop nutrients - and offshore interests. As the world’s population continues to grow at the rate of 1.1 percent annually, that translates into 73 million more people each year. That growth coupled with increasing prosperity means increased demands for protein-rich diets. The need for more protein has a significant impact on grain and oilseed demands, as protein-based diets are more dependent on these products than diets based on carbohydrates. Yet, arable lands are limited so the most efficient way to meet these growing demands is through increased crop yields. Mosaic crop nutrients can dramatically increase a farmer’s yields per acre, making the use of crop nutrients essential to growing the food the world needs. Mosaic’s crop nutrition products are complemented by its customized services, such as field mapping and soil testing to agronomic consulting and fertilizer blending innovations – all responding to the Mosaic mission to help the world grow the food it needs. The Mosaic values of integrity, excellence, sustainability and connectivity define how it conducts its business, engages employees and treats the communities where it has a presence and the planet. Mosaic’s annual potash capacity of 10.4 million tons is the second largest in the world and includes mining operations in Saskatchewan, New Mexico and Michigan. Nearly half of that product is sold to customers in North America with the balance exported to other regions of the world. With an annual capacity of 10.3 million tons of phosphate, Mosaic is the world’s largest producer of finished phosphate products. Approximately 46 percent of the company’s phosphate product is shipped within North America and the balance is exported. Offshore interests of Mosaic form a production and distribution network in important agricultural markets globally. This network is a competitive differentiator for Mosaic and includes approximately one million tons of storage capacity at 24 facilities with operations in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, India, Thailand and China. Mosaic mining operations in Florida encompass 322,000 acres of land holdings of which 117,000 acres are located at active mine sites. South Fort Meade is one of five active mines in Florida plus three fertilizer production facilities at Bartow, New Wales and Riverview. Stoughton anticipates his mine will continue production for at least another decade. Production will then take place at two other mines, Ona in Hardee County and Pine Level in De Soto County. The phosphate industry in Florida (with Mosaic as one of its leading producer) has a direct economic im-
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Mosaic-Continued on page 52
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Mosaic-Continued from page 50 pact annually of $3.3 billion and is directly responsible for more than 3,600 jobs. That impact, which reflects compensation, returns to investors, income on property and payments to government, is more than tripled if you consider the businesses and tens of thousands of jobs that are dependent on supplying goods and services to the industry. The South Fort Meade Mine produces 6.5 million tons of refined phosphate annually and has four draglines, those huge, electric powered machines that extract phosphate matrix (a mix of clay, sand and phosphate rock) from the ground. The dragline bucket alone weighs 100,000-pounds empty. “We mine about three acres per day,” said Stoughton. Once extracted, the matrix moves via pumped slurry (a mixture of matrix and water) to a production facility where the clay and sand are removed and moved back to the field for reclamation. The South Fort Meade operation strives to utilize the minimum amount of water possible. “We continuously recycle more than 95 percent of the water we use,” said Stoughton. The refined phosphate rock is then transported by rail for processing into finished fertilizer at Mosaic facilities in Florida or Louisiana. “All phosphate rock from our plant is shipped by rail,” said Stoughton. “We do no truck shipping.” If the refined rock is destined for a Mosaic facility out of state, it moves via ship from the Tampa Bay Big Bend Terminal. Mosaic’s fertilizer production facilities process nutrients in the phosphate rock into a water soluble granule form that, when applied to the soil, encourages nutrient “uptake” through a plant’s roots. Finished fertilizer is distributed domestically and internationally by ship, barge, rail and truck to retailers who sell and deliver it to farmers. “The mining business is highly regulated,” said Stoughton. “Much study and information gathering must be done long before any mining takes place. This involves ground and surface water, land use and habitats, wildlife, wetlands and more. We must also secure wetland permits for the preservation, conservation and protection of state waters.” Prior to any mining, the company must also submit and gain approval for plans regarding the reclamation of lands once they intend to mine. “Reclamation is done on an acre for acre basis and when wetlands are involved, the end result must be wetlands equal to or better than those impacted by our mining operations,” said Stoughton. “We devote a substantial portion of our annual budget to reclamation, returning post-mined lands to healthy natural ecosystems as wildlife habitats or for residential, agricultural and industrial uses.” Mosaic reclaimed more than 4,500 acres at a total cost exceeding $53 million in fiscal 2008-2009. Stoughton takes great pride in his South Fort Meade employees. “We have next to no turnover and count many multiple family members and generations on our roster.” Two families that come to mind are the Adams and Williamson’s, he said. “Our compensation, benefits and the way we treat our employees are key reasons for our stability,” Stoughton added. “Any industrial operation has associated risks,” said Stoughton. “The ones that get my closest personal attention, no matter the time of day or night, are those that relate to the well being of our employees or the environment. My staff is very capable of handling production matters, but employee and environmental situations are critical to me.” Giving back to the community is also important to Mosaic and the South Fort Meade mine. “That’s part of our culture and it runs the gamut from large-scale and organized United Way campaigns, educational fund-raising activities and financial support for youth livestock competitions to helping with maintenance at schools and more.” South Fort Meade hosts elementary school groups for day long visits to the mine. “My current environmental engineer was on one of those tours some years ago and now he’s an important member of our team,” said Stoughton. Helping feed the world and becoming recognized as the global leader in crop nutrients are major challenges. Stoughton is confident his team is up to the task and looks forward to the continuation of their contributions. For more information about Mosaic and its activities locally and globally, visit www.Mosaicco.com.
Become a member of
Polk County Farm Bureau! Polk County Farm Bureau—the “Voice of Agriculture” represents its members on the local and state national level. A grassroots organization that gets the job done!
What does Farm Bureau do for the Industry? Water use, land use, taxation and pest and disease eradication measures are some of the issues Farm Bureau pursues on your behalf to make sure laws and regulations created take your best interests into consideration. Farm Bureau works as the ears and eyes on behalf of agriculturist across the county.
What are the benefits? Farm Bureau offers many of the products and services you use everyday such as long distance calling and insurance protection. You also receive discounts on tickets to Florida theme parks such as Anheuser-Busch’s Busch Gardens, Adventure Island and Sea World.
What is the cost? Active Member: Cost= $69.00 -Full Time Farmer -Part Time Farmer -Farm Employee -Agriculture related business -Lease land for agriculture production Associate Member: Cost= $54.00 -Supporter of Agriculture -Insurance obtained through Farm Bureau Insurance
Name:___________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Email:__________________________________ Phone:____________________ Fax:_____________________ County:__________________________________________________ Membership: (refer to above details) Active $69 Associate $54 **Your membership dues include a contribution to the local and state Political Action Committee (PAC). Please indicate if you chose to remove this supportive contribution from your dues payment. County PAC— $5.00 State PAC— $1.00
Send your check made payable to Polk County Farm Bureau to the following address: 1715 Hwy 17 South, Bartow, FL 33830, Attention: Membership www.pcfb.org
▪
info@pcfb.org
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INTERNATIONAL CUB TRACTOR WITH BELLY MOWER Runs Good • Need painted. $1,500.00 OBO 813-629-2796
(Blairsville, GA) Email: candaceharris@tds.net -We Ship!
2wd tractor • $3,500. Call 863-967-0651
STALL AVAILABLE-FULL BOARD
Mini Excavator low hours. Quick attach bucket. Call Scott 813-764-0603
Local/long distance transport, auction to home/home to auc- $2.75/lb. cut and wrapped. Whole, Half or Quarter. Cash, Mastercard or Visa. 863-206-2828 tion, experience, reasonable rates. Call Brian 352-266-5322
T1LL 4X8
JOHN LYONS TRAINED HORSES
**HORSES WELCOME** POLK CITYFOR LEASE
KUBOTA ZD18 DIESEL
6 horses for sale. Western, dressage and hunter disciplines. Zero turn 54” deck. Reg. & grade $500-$8,000. UTD on everything. Call Lacey $7,900. Call Scott 813-752-3378 352-207-4057
ORGANIC HERBS & GARDEN SEEDS
HUSQVARNA LZ 6127
Education/resources on organic growing; garden tours by Zero turn mower. 61” cut, 27 hp Kohler engine, 5 yr. appointment of herb beds (culinary, medicinal, natives, but- warranty $7,499 (MSRP $9,699) C&J Equip., Lake Wales, terfly, ethnobotanical.) Willow herbal delight gardens, Val- 863-638-0671 rico. 813-643-7285.
SURPLUS WINDOWS DOUBLE INSULATED
STEEL BUILDINGS, RECESSION DISC.
Starting at $55.00 • Call Ted 813-752-3378 MOBILE HOME SIZES
18X21 Reg $8,562 Now $5,708 36X51 Reg $19,610 Now $13,073 105X105 Reg $98,495 Now $65,663 Code Adj, Erection Avail. www.scg-grp.com Source#0JR 813-774-6548
NEW HOLLAND TN 60A
KUBOTA L275
With shuttle shift • Ready to work! $3,950. Call 813-759-8722
With Loader. 4X4, 2003 model, canopy. 439 hours. Call David 863-537-1345 $9,900
INTERNATIONAL 2404 TRACTOR 40hp, classic gasoline tractor, runs great. $3,300 Call Scott 813-764-0603
2000 LULL 644B-42’
Reach forklift 3,952 hours. $29,469 Call 863-698-4114
NEW HOLLAND SKID LOADERS
DBL INSULATED
Several used models- LS180, LX865, LX885, LS160 (with warranty) $10,000 up. Call 813-623-3673
Thermo Pane. Starting at $55.00. Call Ted 813-752-3378
2005 JOHN DEERE
Front blade tractor blade 54” or series 300, 400, F900 series mowers. 1 year old with hitch & quick connect. Hydraulic hitch $1,200 obo. Call 863-537-2905 (Ft. Meade)
REGISTERED ANGUS BULLS FOR SALE Leachman Right Time Sons, Vermillion Farms 352-425-0733
KUBOTA B7200 HST Good condition. $4,500 Call Scott 813-752-3378
4wd tractors $4,500 each. Only 2 available. 813.623.3673
Flowing creek 4 bedroom, 4 bath house built in 2007. Food plots, feeders with cameras, 20 stands. $950,000 Call Rhonda Wetherington 813-763-0986.
BEAT THE HIGH COST OF BOARDING
TRAEGER LIL’ TEX GRILL-$550
2.5 Acres 3/2 ranch w/pool, fenced pasture, barn and tack room. Reduced to $299,900 . Call John at Kilgore Real Estate. 813-689-5881
1984 KUBOTA B6200
2 wd, w/4 ft. Finish Mower. $3,000 • 863-698-2967
KUBOTA M4900
4 wd shuttle loader, low hours, 49 hp. Call Scott 813-764-0603
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
TO PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED ADS CALL
813-759-6909
With LA513 loader, low hours. $16, 995. Call Scott 813-764-0603
KUBOTA
RIVERVIEW
Farmall 140 runs like new. From early 1960s GREAT FIND! $2,000/obo. Call 813-737-6061.
KUBOTA L3830 TRACTOR
250 ACRES in BUTLER GEORGIA
3 stall barn for rent. Lighted arena, within walking distance of Dover Trails. $500.00/month Call 813-689-8625
VEGETABLE SALE
FOR SALE COLLECTABLE TRACTOR
KUBOTA L3000
Dyna Glide Streetbob, cobalt blue, only. 368 miles, EXCELLENT condition. Extras added!!! Ready to ride. $14,500 Serious Inquiries Only! (813)659-3402
Antique 8N Ford 1952, like new tires, engine $4,250. Almost new 06 Kioti 120 tractor, bucket and box, only 70 hours $8,900. Neil 863-465-8144 Lake Placid.
WOODS ZERO TURN MOWER F27 New Holland 644 Round Baler
•2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON•
TRACTORS
Eating at home more? Come see us! Sale dates are Sept. 18th & 19th & Oct. 16th & 17th. Please call us @ 813-754-1500 or visit us at www.southernproduce.com
Acreage, lakefront, ranches, “mini” farms. Mary L. Adsit, $8,000.00 • 813-623-3673 Realtor 863-285-7118. TOP BRAHMAN COWS www.maryadsit.com 4-6 Years Old. Bred to purebred Brahman Bulls. Available 2005 MASSEY FERGUSON 1533 NOW. Contact our ranch at (305) 218-1238 4X4 Loader power shuttle 320 hours $11, 500. 2 ea. NEW HOLLAND TN60A Tractors Call Today! 813-759-8722 2WD 45 hp 8X8 • $13,500.00 each. 813-623-3673 CORIAN COUNTER TOP $15.00 Square Foot • Call Ted 813-752-3378
4 bedroom/3 Bath spacious executive home with detached double garage situated on 11 fully fenced ares. Perfect for HORSES, 4 wheelers and other outdoor activities. $1,500/month. Call 863-904-4174
2 wd, w/loader, 45-hp Late Model $16,500 Call: 813-623-3673 demo unit $8500.00 • 813-623-3673
CALL THE “LANDLADY”
sheet B-grade $14.95. Call Ted 813-752-3378
**PRICE REDUCED TO SELL** The Lil’ Tex is a “pint sized” grill with a “ten Gallon” cooking potential with 418 sq. inches of cooking surface, the Lil’ Tex features a high-tech auger-fed burner, electronic auto-start, solid state control system and EZ drain grease system. Includes manuel, cover, built-in thermometer on lid, cookbook and cooking pellets. BRAND NEW only cooked on 4 times. Call for info or to see. OWNERS ARE ANXIOUS TO SELL. (813) 752-3099.
STALLS AVAILABLE ON LUTZ-TAMPA LINE
Full Board $385/month grass turnout. 25-acre riding area. Condo also for rent in close proximity. Call for more details. 813-977-1274 ask for Chris or Jim.
SEPTEMBER 2009
YOUR Agriculture Magazine
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009
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Central Florida’s ONLY Full Service, Full Line Chevrolet Dealership
Chris Sparkman & Billy Herold
1475 W. Main St, Rt. 60, Bartow, FL 33830
863.533.0777 • 888.533.0777 www.bartowchevrolet.com
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2009