Students get ready for contests through school offered by the UF Department of Animal Sciences EACH YEAR, The University of Florida’s Department of Animal Sciences operates informational and competitive youth programs for students within a 4-H Club or FFA Chapter. The UF/DAS recently held its annual 4-H/FFA Horse-Judging School, where students learned about judging at …
Supporting UF/IFAS innovation and research through legislative leadership HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY Representative Jake Raburn has now earned what I call the “grand slam” of legislator-of-the-year awards from the agriculture community. Last year, the Florida Farm Bureau and Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association named him their top lawmaker. The Florida Forestry Association did so this year.
Embarking on a study to analyze the economic impact of agribusiness in the area IN 1974, a Hillsborough County government report predicted the demise of local agriculture by the turn of the century. It couldn’t have been more wrong. Hillsborough agriculture actually grew in value from $40 million annually at the time of the report …
Helping to write the next chapter of Hillsborough County agriculture Read More »
Florida blueberry pioneer is recognized for his contributions THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA’S Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences prides itself on growing blueberries all over the state. More than 95 percent of the state’s 5,000 acres of the fruit are planted in cultivars developed by UF/IFAS. Blueberries have also helped us with a crucial crop …
| Thomas Perry discovers his ability to be a frontrunner for his community | AT AGE 18, Thomas Perry already knows he wants to work as an engineer. But what he wants to be is a leader. He discovered it while he attended Moore Haven High School in Glades County, just as he learned biology, …
One student’s journey in the 4-H Leadership Program Read More »
| New leadership for UF/IFAS Horticulture to strengthen the industry and research ties | UF/IFAS HAS 14 ACADEMIC departments and two schools, so I spend a lot of time finding the right people to lead them. Finding a new chair for the Department of Environmental Horticulture was easy, because I already employed an ideal candidate …
Seventy-one-year-old Benny McLean Jr.’s family used to grow citrus organically before anybody cared about organics. Before herbicides and chemical fertilizers were introduced in the mid-1960s, they sprayed with sulphur and lime. [emember_protected custom_msg=”Click here and register now to read the rest of the article!”] So when McLean’s son, Matt, came home from college 13 years …
Harvest time: Organic blueberry growers battle odds in niche market Read More »
| Season’s surprises keep Florida blueberry growers on their toes as they continue to diversify | Florida’s blueberry crop was lighter than anticipated this year, which meant higher prices overall for the state’s blueberry growers. With gross prices averaging $5 a pound, some growers had a pretty good year; but returns were mixed. “This is …
Commercial harvests, u-picks operations, & making wine Read More »
| Instructing local students while strengthening the relationship between rider and equine | The location may have changed, but the enthusiasm and excitement that happens each summer for students in the Florida 4-H Horsemanship School never dwindles. From June 9-14 (for Western Riding) and June 23-28 (for English Riding) of this year, students ages 11-18 …
| Commissioner’s AgriCorner | This April, Florida celebrates 500 years since Juan Ponce de Leon landed in St. Augustine and became the first European to discover our great state. Not long after the Spanish discovered Florida, they introduced cattle to the New World and established Florida’s oldest industry – cattle ranching. [emember_protected custom_msg=”Click here and …
A brief look at Florida’s oldest industry — cattle ranching Read More »
