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Research on Controlled Environment Agriculture Reaching New Heights With Vertical Farming Labs by PAUL CATALA As the human population and global development continue to increase, the availability of land for agriculture decreases and the need to grow up rather than out increases. That’s why vertical farming, the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers, […]

by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida When it comes to Florida agriculture, it’s our fruit that gets most of the attention, including our world famous citrus, as well as other fruits like strawberries and blueberries. But what isn’t as well known is we’re a major producer of veggies as well, including

UF Agriculture Economist Using AgTools to Give Growers an Edge by K. MICHELE TRICE Dr. Kimberly Morgan, associate professor and extension agricultural economist with the University of Florida, is using innovative software to help Florida farmers and growers increase their access to vital data and improve their negotiating abilities.  Morgan is using AgTools, a worldwide

by JUDI BENTLEY photos by DAVID AUSTIN The Master Gardener Volunteers 2023 Let It Grow Garden Festival and Plant Sale is just around the corner! This is the fifth year for the event, and it keeps getting bigger and better each year. The festival is set for Saturday, Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. until 4

2023 Woman of the Year in Ag Reflects on Service, Giving Back by PAUL CATALA On Oct. 18, Saundra TenBroeck was diligently doing what she’s done for the past 28 years — teaching, guiding, and mentoring students at the University of Florida. A day later, the UF/IFAS State Extension Horse Specialist and associate professor for

Marshal Sewell’s Pain and Loss Become a Lifeline for Others by Ryan Milejczak Farming is one of the most important jobs in our society. Any time you eat a meal, you have numerous farmers and agricultural workers to thank for making it all possible. Despite the importance of this work, however, many people aren’t aware

Painter Blair Updike Uses Art to Advance Conservation by K. MICHELE TRICE photos by LEXI WHAREM Artists have long been the voice of activism, crying out for change through their work. Blair Updike, eighth-generation Floridian and former mayor of Highland Park, is an artist whose activism shines through in her oil paintings. Updike says she

by TERESA SCHIFFER Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida When it comes to vegetables, it’s hard to find one more refreshing than the always cool cucumber. That perky crispness is the result of cucumbers being more than 95 percent water. Amazingly, that high water content has the effect of lowering the inside of this

Murals Memorialize Florida’s Roots in Ag by PAUL CATALA Throughout much of Florida’s history, agriculture has played an integral part in the state’s economy and the prosperity and day-to-day lives of its residents. In recent years, the ag industry’s visibility has shifted somewhat as more people crowd into the state and tourism, construction, and development

by PAUL CATALA Angela Shope says “from day one” she’s known she wanted to get a career that would combine environmental conservation and law enforcement. And at 22 years old, Shope has accomplished that: She’s now a law enforcement officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Shope graduated from South Florida State