New Professor Looks to Help Florida Grapefruit Industry by TIM CRAIG A new hire for the University of Florida’s Indian River Research and Education Center should have an impact on the state’s ailing grapefruit industry as part of her research. Sandra Guzman, an assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, will lead the
On Saturday, February 16, the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association held their annual Trade Show and Ranch Rode in partnership with the UF/IFAS Extension of Polk County. Held at the Bartow Horse Arena, this event featured various booths, local artists, and craftsmen. Additionally, attendees were treated to a spectacular rodeo while cheering on their favorite local
Money Being Pumped Back into Florida Citrus by MATT COBBLE NO ONE WHO works in agriculture is afraid of hard work. That being said, between three major hurricanes in as many years and the continuing struggle against citrus greening, the past few years have been especially hard. But there is good news on the
Local Program Uses Books to Unite Children and Rescued Horses by MATT NORMAN Have you ever considered the benefits of reading to a horse? Have you ever considered that it would actually benefit both the horse and the reader? A local group is seeing those benefits first hand. The Reading with Rescues program is giving
Florida Citrus Volumes Rebounding in 2019 by BRENDA EGGERT BRADER Last fall, the USDA released their 2019 Citrus Forecast and predicted a nice rebound year for the state’s citrus and grapefruit industries. So far early into the 2019 crop, those predictions look to be accurate. The USDA forecast for Florida’s all orange output was set
This Year’s Outlook, New Varieties, and the Future of Florida’s Strawberries by ERIKA ALDRICH Strawberries have been rising in the ranks of Florida crops over the years and have become one of the more prominent crops in The Sunshine State. Consequently, the strawberry outlook for 2018-2019 is shaping up to be a good one, and
Hoof Care Cautions & Tips for Your Equine by MARY TOOTHMAN Horse hoof care is vital to healthy, happy horses and impacts the horse’s ability to run, jump, do farm work, compete, ride trails, and interact with owners and other horses. Hooves must be tended to properly for overall good equine health. Environmental and weather
Get to Know the Face of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association by JULIE GMITTER While most Florida residents (and fruit lovers from around the country) are well aware of just how sweet, red, and juicy our Florida strawberries are, they may not be familiar with Jammer – the adorable talking, singing, animated strawberry! Jammer is
by JULIE GMITTER Florida is an oasis for gardeners, farmers, and plant lovers alike, with unique species and a sunny, warm climate which is just perfect for America’s most popular pastime. Since 1979, the Florida Master Gardener Program has trained thousands of volunteers in Florida who have worked to provide nearly $10 million dollars of
Bok Tower Gardens is home to the Rare Plant Conservation Program. Tasked with preserving the genetic diversity of Florida’s flora, they work with some of the rarest plants in the world. by TERESA SCHIFFER Cheryl Peterson doesn’t wear a cape, and she can’t fly or see through walls, but the work she does is