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Polk County is cultivating a robust pipeline of qualified talent to support its vital and evolving agricultural sector, thanks to strong partnerships between higher education and industry.  At the forefront is Warner University in Lake Wales, offering a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Studies. Located in the heart of citrus country, Warner blends classroom learning […]

The recent confirmation of a strangles case in Polk County has heightened awareness and concern among local horse owners. As with any contagious disease, prevention is always better than a cure. Understanding what strangles is, how it spreads, and what measures can help protect your horses. What Is Strangles? Strangles is a highly contagious respiratory

Maryland AgTech company Silvec Biologics is working to release a revolutionary agricultural technology to combat citrus greening, the devastating disease that has nearly devastated the Florida citrus industry. The product is still in the trial stage and has yet to receive final EPA and State of Florida approval, but test results point toward a promising

The end of March to the beginning of April is the time when young citrus fruitlets really start to be susceptible to citrus canker; it’s made worse by a warm, rainy spring as the bacteria that causes it thrives in such weather. While drier weather is in the forecast for Florida, experts say it does

Flies are more than just a nuisance for horses; they pose significant health and welfare concerns that can affect the well-being of horses. Understanding the impact of flies and effective management strategies is essential for horse owners. There are several types of flies that are particularly problematic for horses: 1. Stable Flies: These are often

When Florida Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced the 2025 Agricultural Environmental Leadership Award, the recipient was no surprise. Wish Farms, a fourth-generation family business from Plant City, took the well-deserved spotlight. Wish Farms is known for its prowess growing strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and pineberries. But this fruit producer is doing far more than just

Polk County continues to be a significant driver of Florida’s economy, emerging as a dynamic hub of opportunity and an ideal location for both new and established businesses looking to expand. While the county’s economy is still anchored on traditional industries such as citrus, cattle, agriculture and mining – industries that have been instrumental in

While early April has seen a jump in temperatures, there has also been quite a bit of heat coming from Tallahassee. The Florida Senate, led by President Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula), may have turned more than a few heads when it released a proposed budget for 2025-2026 that included $200 million in key funding for Florida’s

The revitalization of Florida’s citrus industry won’t happen overnight, but a variety of sweet orange developed by biotechnology company Soilcea is showing impressive resistance to the devastating effects of Huanglongbing (HLB or citrus greening disease) in a current trial.  Soilcea leveraged CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat) technology to improve the sweet orange’s natural

Hoof abscesses in horses can be alarming, but understanding their causes and implementing preventive measures can keep your horse comfortable and healthy. Here’s what you need to know to ensure your horse stays sound.   What Is a Hoof Abscess? Imagine a hoof abscess as a pimple—just on your horse’s foot. It occurs when bacteria enter