Sarah Rogers runs a bit of a livestock library for her fellow 4-Hers and FFAers in Plant City. The youngest users pet and cuddle Rogers’ rabbits, getting their first chance to learn how to handle an animal properly. Those who are a few years older work with the sheep she keeps at her family’s […]
The Critical Need for Youth Leaders Read More »
sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida Tangerines are a sweet, succulent treat that can be easily peeled for a fun and healthy snack. Florida is the number one producer of tangerines in the U.S., which are available from September through April, peaking around mid-November. These delightful little citrus fruits are delicious on their own,
Signs of the Season: Florida Leads Nation in Tangerine Production Read More »
Ellen Cruz Eager to Use Ag Background and Degree in Role by TERESA SCHIFFER Central Florida Ag News welcomes new Florida Farm Bureau District 5 Field Representative Ellen Cruz! She will be serving the Central Florida agricultural community in Polk, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter, and Lake counties. While she’s a new
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Agri-Fest Adapts to Stay Relevant Over the Years After a year of virtual-only events, Polk County Agri-Fest returns in 2022 with both in-person and virtual opportunities for students to become better aware of how vital the agricultural industry is to Polk County. Agri-Fest started in 1989 as a one-day event at the Winter Haven
Three Decades and Thriving Read More »
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Polk County Youth Fair 2022 photos by Tom Hagerty Read More »
Polk FFA Starts the Year Off Right by JESSICA ANDERSON Polk County FFA Federation has been extremely busy since returning in January from a much-needed holiday break. January started with the county Livestock Judging contest where middle and high school students gathered at Bartow High School to practice their livestock evaluation skills on bulls, steers,
A reigning Big Ten Conference track and field champion is training on the front lawn at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. It’s the only spot at the center where he can throw a javelin 200 feet without spearing a crop or puncturing an irrigation line. What Mark Porter really wants, though, is
UF Plant Breeding Program Draws Top Talent to Help Florida Growers Read More »
by TERESA SCHIFFER Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida Each winter, we get to celebrate the sweetness of the season with farm-fresh, Florida-raised strawberries! The juicy, naturally delightful treats of nature are big business here, bringing roughly $350 million to Florida farmers each year. More than 8,000 acres of Florida’s cropland is devoted
Signs of the Season: Florida a Key Player in Nation’s Strawberry Production Read More »
New Micro Farm Crop Insurance Now Available by MATT COBBLE The dawn of 2022 is bringing new hope for farmers. As of January 31, farmers or ranchers with $100,000 or less in annual revenue may be eligible for the Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) new Micro Farm Crop Insurance. The Micro Farm insurance plan gives
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Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative’s Patrick Arnold Works to Keep Sugar Industry Sustainable, Eco-friendly by PAUL CATALA Motorists traveling on county and state roads in South-Central Florida have grown familiar with the dark plumes of smoke emanating from vast acres of sugarcane. But that could change as the practice of burning sugar fields to remove leaves
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