April 2023 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

Earth Day is celebrated April 22.

A national Earth Day toolkit encourages citizens to band together to advance sustainability and climate action in commemoration of the day.

Practicing sustainability is a way of life for Florida farmers and ranchers. More than 10 million acres are dedicated to agriculture. These lands provide environmental benefits such as preserving the natural landscape and numerous ecosystem services. The careful stewardship of these lands contributes to clean air, water and provides wildlife habitat. Forests and rangeland support carbon sequestration, helping combat climate change.

As the voice for Florida agriculture, farmers and ranchers must tell their story of sustainability every day. Protecting the environment is what we do so we can provide an abundant supply of food and fiber for Americans nationwide.

Help us tell our story on sustainability. If you are a farmer who implements these everyday best management practices on the farm, we want to connect with you. Learn more about our This Farm CARES program and how you can nominate your or a neighbor’s operation.

April 2023 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

American Farm Bureau President, Zippy Duvall traveled to Washington and Jackson Counties March 28-29 to discuss issues that Florida producers are facing and to explore the diversity of farming in the area. On Tuesday, along with Florida Farm Bureau President Jeb Smith, President Duvall spent the morning learning about the process and benefits of silvopasture and he participated in a roundtable discussion with peanut and cotton producers over lunch. The next stop was a cattle ranch in Chipley, owned by Washington County Farm Bureau President George Fisher, and then to the Enviva Pellet Mill in Cottondale.

To finish up the day, President Duvall spoke at the Washington County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. Topics of his address included the importance of the upcoming Farm Bill, challenges with labor and Waters of the US (WOTUS). President Duvall said that with there being 260 newly elected officials that have never voted on a Farm Bill, it is critical for agriculture to continue the pressure to pass a Farm Bill to protect the livelihood of farming and ranching.

On Wednesday morning, President Duvall met with Farm Bureau leaders over breakfast to discuss the role county Farm Bureaus play in the legislative process. The next stop on day two was a visit to the UF/IFAS Peanut and Cattle Breeding Unit in Greenwood. The tour ended with a trip to Marianna where the group visited a Satsuma farm.

President Duvall said he appreciated the hospitality of the host counties, and he saw firsthand the hard work and dedication from the producers he met.

To view all the photos from the tour click here.

April 2023 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

The Florida legislature convened on February 7 to begin the sixty day process for the annual legislative session. Florida Farm Bureau, in the conjunction with the Florida Ag Coalition, is working with our friends in the legislature to help promote policy which supports Florida agriculture.

Senate Bill 1184 and House Bill 1343, sponsored by Senator Collins and Representative Tuck, is an industry-wide package which makes productive amendments to Florida Statutes relating to agriculture. Both bills are flowing through the process, passing unanimously through their committees thus far. Additionally,  Senate Bill 1164 and House Bill 1279, sponsored by Senator Collins and Representative Alvarez contains legislation which would create the Farm TEAM card. This card will provide a streamlined process for producers purchasing tax exempt materials across the state. This bill is also making great traction, and has passed unanimously through their committees as well.

While agriculture policy does take majority of our attention, we also make sure to focus on broader initiatives that affect the business community as a whole. This year, the business industry made a major push for tort reform in the state. House Bill 837, sponsored by Representative Fabricio, Representative Gregory, and Senator Hutson, which makes significant changes to Florida’s civil justice system. This good legislation passed through the House of Representatives with 31 yeas and 15 nays, and the Senate with 23 yeas and 15 nays. Governor DeSantis signed the bill on March 24, 2023, where it immediately took effect upon signing. For more information on House Bill 837, click here.

As we continue to navigate through the second half of the session, many different policy and appropriation initiatives will be considered by the legislature. As the budget process begins, FFBF will work to proactive advocate for funding that will benefit Florida’s farmers and ranchers with FDACS and IFAS. We are looking forward to seeing what the second half brings, and continuing to efforts to advocate on behalf of Florida agriculture.

April 2023 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

By J. Scott Angle
[email protected]
@IFAS_VP

Craig Watson is an icon in Florida aquaculture. He didn’t create the tropical fish industry in Florida. But he helped build it into a community. Farm Bureau was there from the beginning. Thirty years ago, the industry sought a scientific hub. Watson was an Extension agent serving as technical adviser to the Florida Farm Bureau Aquaculture Advisory Committee, and he asked its farmer members (including Marty Tanner, who today is its chair) and FFBF staff member Kevin Morgan (now retired) to advocate for the funding to build and staff what became the UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Lab in Ruskin (TAL).

TAL started with Watson, a veterinarian, a wildlife specialist and a secretary. Over the years, the lab team grew to some 18 people between faculty, staff and students. All the while, Watson continued to serve the Advisory Committee, making many trips to Gainesville over the decades to visit the headquarters of both UF/IFAS and Farm Bureau.

Watson retired in March as the only director in TAL’s 27-year history. Among those who attended his retirement party were Jason Mathis, who today is in a Farm Bureau staff role similar to what Morgan’s was in 30 years ago.

Mathis says two things cement Watson as a Florida agriculture icon. One is that Watson made service to industry the center of the lab’s mission – not publishing papers or pursuing grants (although the team does that, too). Watson and his team have saved fish farmers millions of dollars through veterinary care and a diagnostics lab and made them millions by introducing new breeds and innovative management techniques.

The second pillar of Watson’s legacy, Mathis says, is that Watson built a community not just on science but on relationships. Watson has friends among fish farmers, regulators, funders, research collaborators, association leaders and anyone else in the business.

The lab made many breakthroughs under Watson’s leadership, such as discovering how to farm fish like the blue tang and other aquarium favorites.

In fact, Watson made so many friends and accomplished so much that he received a lifetime achievement award from the U.S. Aquaculture Society 15 years ago. And he was inducted into the Florida Tropical Fish Farms Association Hall of Fame five years ago.

Watson knew commissioners and got Hillsborough County support for the lab. He knew USDA and made space available at TAL for a wildlife specialist. He got the National Weather Service to donate the land to start TAL.

Watson had developed relationships with producers as an Extension agent before the center existed, and he strengthened those relationships and added many more as the TAL director.

I believe one of Watson’s strongest legacies will be that he “cultured” his successor. Matt DiMaggio came to him fresh out of grad school, and for nine years, Matt blossomed into a first-rate scientist, a partner with strong ties to stakeholders and colleagues, and a leader.

DiMaggio impressed me with his vision to expand the staff and facilities at TAL and to expand its portfolio to do more work on food fish.

I also hired DiMaggio as TAL’s second-ever director for the things he won’t change. He’ll advise the FFBF Aquaculture Committee. He’ll also listen very closely to committee members and other FFBF-member fish farmers and focus the lab’s scientific team on solving their problems.

If you’re in the business, please wish Craig well and reach out to Matt.
Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

April 2023 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

James Sutton
Sumter County President, District 11

James Sutton grew up in Pasco County but moved to Sumter County when he was young. He grew up on his father’s cow/calf ranch and inherited it alongside his uncles and cousins.

Sutton attended Hillsborough Community College where he studied emergency services. He served for thirty years on the Sumter County Fire Department and continued to have cattle during his time of service. After retiring three years ago, he has been focused on the growth of his ranch. In addition to cattle, he has a timber operation in Georgia.

Sutton grew up hearing about Farm Bureau throughout high school, and after moving to Sumter County, had a conversation with the Sumter County President about becoming a member. After two years of membership, Sutton was elected to their board as vice president and has served as president for 11 years. He is now completing his second year as a state board member.

“Staff across the state are dedicated to the agricultural industry of Florida,” said Sutton. “We all come together for one common goal and that’s the survival of ag. Whether it’s a small farm or 1,000 acres, each member is treated the same way. We are always looking for the best for each one of them and are always striving to be better at farming and being the voice of agriculture.”

One of Sutton’s favorite ways to be the voice of agriculture is during Farm-City Week in November. His county board and members focus on showcasing agriculture through educational farm tours and a showcase in the Villages Town Center.

“We have a big community called The Villages and always try to bridge the gap to help them understand our way of life,” said Sutton. “This event is the best and most productive way to get others to understand.”

As the population continues to grow in Sumter County, Sutton continues to look for ways to educate members of their community about the importance of agriculture and telling the story of farmers.

“I’m growing forward in trying to maintain the way of life of the Florida farmer. Whatever it takes, that is what I’m growing in.”

With hurricane season just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what can be done to minimize mosquito populations and protect Florida residents from harm.

Dr. Eva Buckner, an Extension specialist at UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach, reports that an increase in mosquito numbers can most likely be expected in the weeks following a hurricane.

While the flooding from hurricanes can stimulate the hatching of mosquito eggs harboring in the soil, these mosquitoes, termed floodwater mosquitoes, are considered a nuisance but do not pose a risk of transmitting viruses to people.

However, when floodwaters do not recede, standing water mosquitoes may start laying eggs on the standing water. These types of mosquitoes have been associated with the transmission of the West Nile virus. It is critical to have a hurricane recovery plan that address standing water and protection from mosquito bites.

Dr. Buckner provides tips to keep consumers from getting bitten, eliminate breeding grounds during hurricane recovery and dispel myths about mosquito-borne diseases. Read more in her blog about mosquitoes and hurricane recovery here.

Additionally, the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (PIE Center) has released a Mosquito Control Toolkit. This toolkit has education information on mosquito control and the negative impact mosquitoes can have in local communities. The toolkit includes social media posts, print media resources, infographics, videos and more.