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Woman of the Year in Ag Angela TenBroeck Focusing on Sustainability by PAUL CATALA   Angela TenBroeck’s agricultural roots stem back to the 18th century when her ancestors began working as sharecroppers in Georgia. Farm life has sustained her family for generations since, and now TenBroeck’s varied accomplishments and contributions to agriculture have earned her […]

This year’s event, set for January 22-28, will have familiar favorites and a new event. by CATHERINE CERVONE photo by TOM HAGERTY (2020)   The Polk County Youth Fair is quickly approaching, and it’s sure to be bigger and better than ever this year.   The 2022 event is set to run from January 22-28

Father’s Kanapaha Botanical Gardens Dream Blossoms Under Daughter’s Direction by TIM CRAIG  In a way, Alexis Caffrey was raised into her role.   Caffrey, in her 11th year as director of Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville, has had a front-row seat to the creation, development, and growth of the location into one of the premier

Three Chosen for 2022 Citrus Hall of Fame by HEATHER MACHOVINA The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame honors prominent leaders in the Florida citrus industry who have made significant contributions to its resilience and sustainability. The Selection Committee recently announced three individuals —one living, two deceased — to be inducted later this year.    George

The increasing cost of production is on everyone’s mind this year. Farm income is expected to reach $113 billion in 2021, due mostly to strong market prices and global demand. But this year isn’t all smooth sailing for American farmers and ranchers. Logistic bottlenecks and various shortages are leading to higher input expenses and difficulty

Floating Solar Panels Introduce New Possibilities for Ag by PAMELA PALONGUE   Many people, including those in the agriculture sector, are embracing a new type of solar power technology that harnesses the sun’s rays without taking up valuable space on land.    That’s just fine with D3Energy, a solar developer of floating solar projects. The

by TERESA SCHIFFER Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida   When we think of corn, we often envision the expansive cornfields of the Midwest. But since the 1940s, the University of Florida has been specially breeding sweet corn for cultivation in Florida. Sweet corn is a $100+ million-dollar industry in the state currently, with

Southwest Middle School Katrina Lynn, Ag Teacher story by CAROLE MCKENZIE, Polk County Farm Bureau Executive Director photos by MACI MAY, Bartow High School FFA   The Southwest Middle School Ag Program is Polk County Farm Bureau’s Outstanding Ag Program of the Year.  Congratulations to Southwest Middle and ag teacher Katrina Lynn!   A common thread

Who Owns and Controls Farm Data? by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS correspondent With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, data derived from farms might be more valuable than the crops that growers produce. That’s because farmers can make money from their data when companies use it for other purposes, says a University of Florida scientist.