MANY YEARS AGO, Florida citrus was sold in dimly lit warehouses around 3 or 4 a.m. It was packed in wooden crates with bright, colorful labels that attracted the buyers’ eyes and helped sell the fruit. “The label was the first thing they would see,” says Brenda Eubanks Burnette, executive director of Florida Citrus Hall …
Citrus labels go on tour: Historic brands make a comeback in the region Read More »
EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS (EEE) has claimed its third victim of the year in Polk County, and officials are recommending that horse owners take precautions, as more cases are expected. A six-year-old Arabian, with no EEE vaccine history or recent travel, began showing clinical signs on June 19 and was subsequently euthanized the same day. It’s …
EEE update: Preventing Eastern Equine Encephalitis for your horse Read More »
THE PLANNNED SALE of a herd of Ona White Angus cattle, a new and Central Florida-hardy breed of cattle, has been canceled.
{Amp•li•fy — increase of volume} THE THEME of the 2014-15 National FFA year was to amplify our voice, not just in our FFA career but in our lives, families, and communities. In the opening session of the 88th National FFA Convention, Andy Paul, 2014-15 National FFA president, stated that “in order to chase our dreams, …
Ag Time with Abby: FFA wants to amplify on ag causes and careers Read More »
THE POLK COUNTY FFA chapters and 4-H clubs have been all about fundraising this year! One huge countywide fundraiser is the #20BuckTruck, sponsored by Kelley Buick GMC of Bartow, and about 25 clubs/chapters are participating in the event.
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 …
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 …
IT’S RARE TODAY to read an article or column about Florida citrus without seeing a reference to citrus greening (Huanglongbing, or HLB), the tree disease that has seriously compromised citrus production all across the state since it was first found in Florida, near Homestead, in August 2005.
Unique traits of the Ona White Angus herd [date today] THERE’S A NEW BREED of cattle in town, and it might be coming to a pasture near you; the University of Florida will be auctioning off its herd of Ona White Angus this fall or winter. Identified as a mixture of breeds dominated by …
A new cattle breed emerges with the tough stuff for Florida’s climate Read More »
Ranchers and cattle industry experts weigh in on the how and why ALDO LEOPOLD — scientist, environmentalist and father of wildlife management — said, “Conservation will ultimately boil down to rewarding the private landowner who conserves the public interest.” An adaptation of that vision is the proposal by Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jon …
