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Florida’s citrus growers are expecting a decent crop this year after learning work arounds for citrus greening disease. What growers are relying on is a toolbox of remedies, among them boosting nutrition, newer greening-resistant varieties, and growing trees under cover. “Citrus greening is still a big issue. Growers have learned to manage it. They’re doing […]

Dr. Ann Blount wouldn’t use the word “surprised” as her reaction to being named the 2018 Woman of the Year in Agriculture. “It came more of a shock than a surprise,” says Blount.  “I mean, I know a lot of the former recipients and there are a lot of women in agriculture who are more

Polk County Ag Teacher and Program of the Year Announced These days Florida is most known for citrus, thousands of miles of white sandy beaches, and, of course, amusement parks. However, many of the original settlers to move into Florida were actually ranchers. They were much more interested in land for their cattle than in

ON 15 ACRES at Howey-in-the-Hills in Lake County, a citrus grove once abandoned by its owner has new life, witnesses say. Hamlin orange trees with obvious symptoms of greening are growing healthy, new leaves. “My goal was just to make a perfect, healthy living soil,” explains Ed James, owner of J & R Groves. “By

THE FOUNDERS of Caloosa Hops in Lake Wales could harvest their novel crops manually, but the idea does not appeal to them much. It’s been enough of a challenge venturing into growing hops in the Sunshine State, says co-owner Brian Marston. He and longtime pal Kevin Updike, president of the Polk County Farm Bureau and

IDENTIFYING YOUR HORSE has always been an issue, but it’s one that technology is improving upon. While the means of identifying your horse can be as simple as descriptions like distinctive markings or even a brand, Radiofrequency Implantable Devices, called RFIDs, are offering a technological solution to horse identification. RFIDs have a slew of other