CATTLE RANCHING in Florida has a long and storied past that may surprise you. The first cattle were brought here with Ponce De Leon and the Spanish explorers in 1521. Those seven Andalusians were likely the ancestors of the Florida scrub cattle that later became the herds of both Seminole natives and pioneer settlers.
ANYONE WONDERING about the state of manufacturing in Central Florida ought to take a brief drive over to Lake Wales. There, at 7 Lincoln Avenue, you’ll find a company called Southern Livestock Systems. At this address, you’ll also find a vibrant and year-round manufacturing operation serving Florida’s ever-growing agricultural community.
Farm-time fun for all with crop mazes, pumpkin patches, hayrides, and more RANCHERS TED AND DONNA SMITH have operated their 450-acre farm in North Lakeland for decades, and are proud of the family business located on the edge of the Green Swamp. Originally set up as a cattle ranch, the family-owned and family-operated Smith Family …
RECENTLY, POLK COUNTY native farmer and exemplary part of the citrus industry, Victor B. “Vic” Story, Jr., was named the 2015 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Florida Farmer of the Year. The award has been granted for the last 25 years to the top innovators and businessmen in the agricultural industry; it honors farmers who are exemplary …
Florida Roots: The story of Vic Story — Florida Farmer of the Year Read More »
| New partnership between attraction and UF/IFAS expands horticulture horizons for the public | A PARTNERSHIP between the historic, Lake Wales-based Bok Tower Gardens and the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) aims to help make the gardens a more integral part of learning. “We don’t go to an elementary and …
Cultivation, NOT construction, at Bok Tower Gardens Read More »
When things get hectic on your farm or ranch, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. The best way to deal with that daily chaos is to organize your work schedule. Set your priorities for your work and personal life. [emember_protected custom_msg=”Click here and register now to read the rest of the article!”] That’s the first step …
When you’re trying to decide to grow citrus or peaches, strawberries or blueberries, you need to carefully consider information from various sources. In my professional experience, as business owners there are many decisions we are faced with daily, and sometimes it is easy to overlook some of the variables. In other words, wearing blinders is …
Wearing blinders: A common error in small business Read More »
Technology is changing the way we do business, and agriculture is no exception. To grow your farm and ranch in today’s world, understanding how technology can help you is important. [emember_protected custom_msg=”Click here and register now to read the rest of the article!”] So, I’d like to focus on how computer software can help with …
| Lauren Lewis laying the foundation for tomorrow’s industry | After earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Alabama and Texas, Lauren Lewis, a graduate of Haines City High School’s class of 2006, has returned to Polk County to head Lake Wales-based Warner University’s new agricultural studies program. The program is expected to help train …
As Congress debates our nation’s immigration laws, we are reminded that having a capable, available workforce is critical to agricultural businesses. When that workforce is not locally available, farmers look to foreign workers to help harvest their crops. [emember_protected custom_msg=”Click here and register now to read the rest of the article!”] The federal H-2A program …
