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by NAFARI MORRIS Each year, after Ag-Venture wraps up, its 11-member board is able to sit back and appreciate the fruits of their labor. But not for too long. The next day, they get started planning next year’s event.  The board and its army of volunteers are preparing for the 25th installment of Ag-Venture, a […]

Southern Citrus Nurseries Using Hoop Houses for Reduced Costs, Easier Harvest by RYAN MILEJCZAK Florida has one of the most unique climates in the U.S., with plenty of heat, tons of humidity, and distinct wet and dry seasons. Though the Florida climate is ideal for growing many different kinds of crops, growers around the state

by LUIS RODRIGUEZ Starting an agricultural operation can be overwhelming. There are plenty of moving pieces that need to be in the right place for a farm to be a successful business. New or beginner farmers often need guidance to understand what they will need to do to run the farm successfully. This article is

Green Jean Foundation Fosters a Future for Ag  by RYAN MILEJCZAK Education is key in all fields, and that’s especially true for agriculture.  That’s where the Green Jean Foundation comes in. Its mission, in its own words, is “to cultivate agricultural excellence through education,” and it does this by providing educational resources for schools, as

Some Florida Citrus Growers Turning to Alternative Crop  by PAUL CATALA Florida’s annual Commercial Citrus Inventory just recently revealed that the state’s current citrus acreage is 274,705 acres, down 17 percent from the last annual survey.  As the state’s citrus industry continues to reel from the effects of hurricanes and greening, some embattled citrus growers

by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida Oranges might be the star when it comes to Florida citrus, but their cousin the grapefruit is well deserving of the spotlight as well.  The grapefruit, Citrus x paradisi, is a hybrid fruit that was first found in Barbados in the 18th century. It resulted

Growing Beyond the Familiar to Explore Nontraditional Crops  by REBEKAH PIERCE Florida is perhaps best known for the expansive acres of citrus groves that once stretched across the state. But the state’s crops aren’t limited to citrus, and that’s something Florida growers are proving by investing in a wide variety of emerging crops, including eucalyptus,

by PAUL CATALA This is a developing story and may be updated at a later date. On August 16, the Polk County Commission delivered a win for agriculture by allocating $21 million for the creation of a new agricultural center on county-owned land between Bartow and Fort Meade. The county’s original livestock arena — the

CRAFT Foundation Under New Management as Wood Moves on and Hall Steps Up by MATT COBBLE After five years, the Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation is under new leadership. On July 8, former Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture Steven Hall replaced Tamara Wood as CRAFT’s Executive Director. Hall grew up on his family’s farm

Clermont Farmer Banks Helfrich Is On a Mission to ‘Close the Loop’ by REBEKAH PIERCEtitle photo by SAI PATEL Variety is the spice of life, or so they say — and for Clermont farmer Banks Helfrich, that statement couldn’t possibly hold more truth. A performer-turned-farmer, Helfrich grows hundreds of different plants on his 7-acre plot.