From the Editor’s Desk

In the past couple of years, we’ve seen the issue of mental health for farmers and ranchers come into the spotlight. One of the driving forces behind that increased awareness is Marshal Sewell. He and his wife, Taylor, founded the Mind Your Melon Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to mental health advocacy and awareness for individuals […]

’Tis the season … no, not that season. That one has passed. That’s the one where the kids are nestled all snug in their beds. I’m talking about Youth Fair season, when those kids are not nestled in their beds, but they are out in force showing up and showing off their skills. You never

This was a tough year for many growers here in Florida. Let’s face it, farming is hard enough to begin with. Now add multiple hurricanes to the multitude of challenges, and profit and yield become even more volatile. Thankfully, there’s good news coming out of Washington as we head into the holidays and new year.

I often share my sense of appreciation for the individuals I meet at expos and events, and the recent Florida Blueberry Growers Association 2024 Hall of Fame Banquet at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland did not disappoint. The association honored the accomplishments of three inductees who helped to shape the Florida blueberry industry and beyond. 

At Central Florida Ag News, we’re huge advocates of youth getting involved in agriculture, so of course we love to highlight FFA activity and achievements. But if you think FFA is the only option for getting your child involved in agriculture, your kids could be missing out on other great opportunities.  4-H, which is America’s

The people we come across in life can either boost our spirit and widen our eyes or sap our energy and drain our positivity. I met and listened to people from all aspects of the industry at the recent Citrus Expo in Tampa, and needless to say … every single one of them fell into

They say the best way to learn about something and understand it is to experience it, and the same is true for Florida agriculture. I’ll admit that like most Florida residents, I was pretty naive about our state’s agriculture industry until I started visiting local ag operations and surrounding myself with the brightest minds in

Since 1947, the U.S. Forest Service has been reminding us that “only you can prevent forest fires.” Now, the Florida Forest Service is calling on residents to help the state’s reforestation efforts, and they’re making it easy to participate. Florida Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson and the Florida Forest Service just announced the opening of the

There are two particular fruits that don’t stand a chance in our house: blueberries and watermelon. And when I say they don’t stand a chance, I mean there are no rules, no niceties, and no sharing. Once the fruit makes it in the door, all bets are off … and waking up early to get

Mental health challenges in the agriculture sector have long been a problem, but only recently have they begun to gain traction in conversations and awareness.  In fact, research shows that the suicide rate for farmers and ranchers is 3.5 times higher than other professions. That’s one of the reasons we featured Marshal Sewell and Mind