Frontier farmers take a step back to black with this alternative crop TOO MUCH HANDLING will ruin them, they are time-consuming to harvest, and sometimes they have thorns — but consumers love blackberries, and they are a viable fruit to be grown as an alternative to citrus in Florida.
Venturing into the pampered world of blackberries Read More »
UF/IFAS rebuilding research ranks with new funding POLK, HILLSBOROUGH and surrounding Florida farmers and natural resource managers are about to reap a huge brain gain. In its recently passed budget, the state Legislature provided enough money to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to hire more than 45 new faculty members.
Taking a teamwork approach to science Read More »
IF THERE’S ONE THING local citrus growers are paying close attention to of late, it’s the concept of alternative crops. As citrus greening continues to threaten citrus crops and cause hardships for growers, researchers, business leaders, and farmers have devoted sharp attention to what other products they can grow besides citrus.
Not just a border tree — possibilities with eucalyptus crops Read More »
MULLIKIN THE HORSE AND FRIENDS by JANET DELCASTILLO About the Author/Illustrator: Janet DelCastillo is a thoroughbred race horse trainer based in Winter Haven, Florida. For more information about her equine work, visit www.backyardracehorse.com.
Equine funnies for kids Read More »
Can Florida’s seafood industry help start a new chapter in America’s seafood intake? “ONE FISH, two fish, red fish, blue fish.” This Dr. Seuss classic is one a lot of us grew up on, passing it down from generation to generation. But there is an important lesson to be learned through this short tale …
Harvest Time: One fish, two fish Read More »
Citrus greening promotes its own spread, according to researchers SOMETIMES, Mother Nature is just not very nice to the agriculture industry, as a recent study by University of Florida researchers stands to confirm. Citrus greening, according to the five researchers involved, has a built-in, bug-driven method of spreading itself far and wide — making it
New study shows how HLB bacterium changes bug behavior patterns Read More »
THOMAS EDISON — the inventor of the light bulb, among many other important things — once said, “The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.” Edison’s advice rings true for Colton Matthews, a Lakeland native headed to college at Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas, this
Florida Roots: Colton Matthews’ past, present, and future in ag Read More »
Florida Agricultural Museum welcomes newest member ON JULY 24, 2015, a stunning red cracker calf (see inset in photo above) was welcomed into the world by workers at the Florida Agricultural Museum. Located in Palm Coast, Florida, the Florida Agricultural Museum currently hosts a small herd of cracker cattle: one bull, two cows, and the
Florida cracker calf needs a name Read More »
What’s setting the tone for next year’s legislative session AT THE OUTSET of the 2015 Legislative Session, water seemed to be the issue at the forefront in the minds of policymakers. However, that was before bitter disagreement over the budget prompted the House to unexpectedly adjourn three days early, putting into motion a “stranger-than-fiction” domino
AgriGov: The water policy that wasn’t Read More »
Christian Spinosa as the voice of Captain Citrus MANY YOUNG KIDS dream of growing up to be a farmer or a superhero, but not usually both. For Central Florida native Christian Spinosa, it’s a daily reality. Hailing from a long line of citrus and beef producers, Spinosa has recently had the pleasure of helping out
Florida roots: A farmer; a superhero — or both? Read More »
