December 2021 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

Hillsborough County Farm Bureau (HCFB) President, Dennis Carlton Jr., has deep roots in Florida agriculture. Carlton is an 8th generation Floridian who grew up in Dover in Hillsborough County.

He and his wife, Sara Beth, have two young children, Anna Kate and Dennis Carlton, III. Carlton is part-owner in his family’s beef cattle operation, an extensive cattle operation that spans six central Florida counties. He is also involved in real estate and owns properties that he leases to farmers for strawberry production, a crop that has a local economic impact of $700 million. He and his family are active members of FFW Baptist Church in Seffner.

Carlton has served as HCFB president for three years. It is a role that he holds dear to his heart. “I enjoy advocating on behalf of farmers and ranchers and am very tuned into agricultural issues that affect my community and state,” he said.
Carlton explained that agriculture in Hillsborough County is very diverse, with more than 2,200 farms and a population of 1.5 million. He stressed the importance of having a strong, active board of directors making a difference in their community and he is proud to serve alongside them.

HCFB is committed to pouring into youth in the community through agricultural education. Each year, the county Farm Bureau hosts an Ag Abilities event and an Ag Ventures Day where elementary school students can learn about local agriculture through hands-on activities.

Ag Abilities has been a remarkable success since 2001 thanks to Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Executive Director Judi Whitson. The event attracts young Exceptional Education Students (ESE) from schools throughout the county and is held at the state fairgrounds in Tampa. The half day competition allows volunteers to interact with students while they learn about agriculture. Sample categories include the foods we eat, tractor driving and animal breed identification. Students are served lunch and participate in an awards ceremony. It is a heartwarming day for the students as well as the volunteers who make the day such a great success.

Farm-City Week, held annually the week before Thanksgiving, is another opportunity in which Carlton uses to connect to consumers in his community. The week-long event is a celebration of the partnerships between urban and rural residents. This year, Carlton was invited to speak at an event hosted by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners on the importance of local agriculture and the benefits it provides.

“Hillsborough County Farm Bureau is dedicated to its members and upholding it’s strength as an organization within our community,” he said.

December 2021 FloridAgriculture E-Newsletter

Hundreds of Florida Farm Bureau members from across the state convened at the state Capitol on Nov. 30 to meet with legislators during Florida Farm Bureau’s annual Farm Bureau Day.

The state’s largest general agricultural organization and its members spent a full day in Tallahassee visiting with lawmakers to discuss key policy issues that affect agriculture.

Top issues included support for a nutrient efficiency bill for farmers and ranchers so that they can continue to implement Best Management Practices.

Additional funding for the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences’ research projects and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Fresh from Florida and Rural and Family Lands Program were also a top priority.

The day-long legislative event kicked off with a briefing breakfast at the Donald L.Tucker Civic Center. The day followed with meetings with elected officials and a group session in the Senate Chamber where Senate President Wilton Simpson detailed the importance of keeping agriculture strong in Florida. Other lawmakers also took time to speak to Florida Farm Bureau members on the importance of advocacy.

The annual “Taste of Florida Agriculture” public event at the Capitol Courtyard concluded the day where more than 1,000 guests attended.  Visitors were able to sample locally grown Florida fruits and vegetables, meet farmers and ranchers and learn more about the importance of an economic sector that contributes $149 billion to the state’s economy.

Keynote speakers at the reception included Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried and Florida Farm Bureau President Jeb S. Smith.

The reception is a partnership between Florida Farm Bureau and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

December FloridAgriculture E-Newsletter

On October 27, 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) published two proposed Rules in the Federal Register to rescind critical habitat regulations.  The agency action removes the definition of “habitat” established by the rule titled “Regulations for Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat” that was published on December 16, 2020.

Critical habitat is defined as an area essential to the conservation of a species that may require special management or protection.

The rescind will give the agency more preference in determining critical habitat and will likely lead to private property rights infringements that will need to be litigated.

In November 2018, the U.S. Supreme court handed a victory to timber company Weyerhaeuser Co and other landowners seeking to limit the federal government’s power to designate private land as protected habitat for endangered species in a property rights case involving the Dusky Gopher frog.

Pacific Legal Foundation litigated this case for the defendants who claimed that the frog was never recorded on the private lands deemed critical habitat.  The agency argued that landowner activities (tree planting) made the land favorable to habitation for the frog to flourish.

Though the Supreme Court was unanimous, the ruling does have limitations and may not be entirely protective of agency overreach.  Florida Farm Bureau staff daily tracks federal agency action and is in regular contact with Pacific Legal Foundation.

December 2021 FloridAgriculture E-Newsletter

A Farm-City Celebration has been held annually in Jackson County for the past 48 years.  Last year the recognition was virtual via a social media video, but this year’s celebration was a public breakfast once again.  The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Farm Credit of Northwest Florida, Jackson County Farm Bureau, and UF/IFAS Extension Jackson County recognized 10 farm families with awards in 2021.  The following highlights were compiled from contributions from the farm families being honored, and the cooperating agency personnel that selected this year’s slate of award winners at the annual Farm City Breakfast, that was held November 19, 2021.

This Farm CARES Recognition – McArthur Farms

In 2001, the County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship, or CARES program, was created.  Two decades later Farm Bureau continues to publicly recognize farmers and ranchers who demonstrate exemplary environmental stewardship by implementing Best Management Practices, or BMPs, on their farms and ranches.  Through the implementation of BMPs, Florida farmers and ranchers have shown a sincere commitment to protecting our state’s natural resources and Farm Bureau is proud to recognize them for their efforts.

Farm Bureau is fortunate to partner with both the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the University of Florida/ IFAS for the CARES program.  We are appreciative for the trusted relationships they build with producers to help advance their conservation efforts.

As part of the CARES program, recipients are awarded a customized “This Farm CARES” sign to display at their farm gate or headquarters.  This sign communicates to the general public that Florida farmers and ranchers are committed to protecting local natural resources.  To date, more than 900 Florida farm families proudly display a CARES sign on their property.

This year’s recipient produces cotton, corn, peanuts and small grains on more than 1,000 acres near Malone.  To accomplish their goals of reducing water and nutrient use as well as protecting water quality, Best Management Practices have been implanted for more than a decade now.  Some of the most effective practices implemented include enhanced irrigation systems, precision application systems and GPS guided equipment.  The nominator for this year’s recipient was Garrett Williams from the Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District.  Garret described the McArthur family as a shining example of farmers who love the land continuously desire to be good environmental stewards of the land under their care.

Florida Farm Bureau is proud to award exemplary environmental stewards and this year’s CARES award is being presented to Jim and Larry McArthur and family, because McArthur Farms cares about protecting natural resources. 

Read more….

December 2021 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

By J. Scott Angle
[email protected]
@IFAS_VP

You know that as a farmer, you’re a steward of the environment you depend on for your livelihood. Maybe you don’t think much about carbon sequestration yet, but the way you farm can make you a climate hero.

Farm Bureau member and former Miami-Dade board member Sandy Stein has been quietly leading the way at his Jungle Nursery in Homestead, where he grows interior foliage. I was glad he received public recognition at the annual meeting in late October.

UF/IFAS nominated Sandy for the commissioner’s Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award in part because he’s an important leader in the movement to have policy makers – and farmers themselves – recognize farms, forests and ranches as sources of climate solutions. Without this leadership and this movement, you can expect more blame for climate change to be heaped on you.

One of the more important alliances between UF/IFAS and Florida producers is the Florida Climate Smart Agriculture Work Group, of which Sandy has been an active member. This producer-led discussion has evolved into a movement to incentivize farmers to do more of what helps the planet—sequestering carbon, protecting wildlife, hosting pollinators, filtering water, and preventing floods.

Few of you get paid for any of this. If policy makers and the public want more of it, then we need policies that allow you to “sell” these things just like you sell vegetables, beef, timber, flowers and fish.

Sandy has not only been an important voice in this movement, which UF/IFAS supports by hosting the group meetings and providing technical expertise, but he has been vocal about raising awareness of existing incentives.

Yes, there are some. It’s a disjointed patchwork of cost-share programs, easements and pilot projects among federal, state, regional and local agencies. Stein advocates for a central clearinghouse you could consult to identify the full range of opportunities to do more of what you already do to provide the public goods we call ecosystems services.

Sandy applies beneficial bugs instead of pesticides to his plants, uses controlled release fertilizers and engages in other environmentally friendly practices. He does this without government incentives in pursuit of his own vision of environmental stewardship.

You’ve been taking care of the land for generations, and UF/IFAS has been helping you do it with the science behind reducing inputs, developing Florida-friendly crop varieties, managing nutrients for less runoff and leaching, and maintaining soil health. Now there’s a need for the science of sequestering carbon.

UF/IFAS long ago recognized Sandy’s leadership potential when we accepted him into our Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The Farm Bureau’s recognition of leaders like Sandy is an important signal that you’re part of climate solutions. Sandy is among those leading the way for farmers to protect both profit and planet. The future of farming—and Florida—depends on it.

Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

TBD

November 2021 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

Statewide Ag Literacy Day Kicks Off with a Cattle Tale at Chiefland Elementary 

Chiefland, Fla. – On Thursday morning, Nov. 4, Elvis the horse, Sweat Pea the heifer, Boots the dog and 800 beef hot dogs arrived at Chiefland elementary school to celebrate 500 years of Florida beef with the Florida Agriculture in the Classroom book, “The Cattle Tale”. The book highlights Florida beef, the state’s 13^th largest industry.  The Levy County Farm Bureau Women’s Program partnered with Florida Agriculture in the Classroom & Usher Land & Timber to host the day-long event.

Parents were invited to attend the event, which included a reading segment of the Ag Literacy Book, “The Cattle Tale” by Korey Griner, and an outside segment where the students were able to interact and learn from local cattle rancher Ken Griner, along with his horse, dog and show heifer

Each class was served a freshly grilled beef hotdog to showcase one of the many products that come from the beef industry.

Women’s Program member, Tiffany Sache, coordinated the event with Chiefland Elementary.

Each teacher was provided a gift bag that included the “The Cattle Tale” book and an activity newsletter for each student.

The cattle industry started in Florida in 1521 and 500 years later it continues to provide greenspace and numerous products around the world. To participate in an Ag in the Classroom reading event to celebrate 500 years of Florida beef, visit https://faitc.org/ag-literacy-day/.

November 2021 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

Delegates at the 2021 Florida Farm Bureau Annual Meeting have elected Jeb Smith of St. Johns County to a two-year term as president of the organization. Smith has served on the state board continuously since 2012 and currently serves on the Putnam/St. Johns County Farm Bureau board of directors.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve as your president. This position will be pursued and fulfilled with prayer, fervor, and enthusiasm. I appreciate your support and am humbled to assist you and our beloved industry,” said Smith.

A lifelong resident and business owner in St. Johns County, Smith and his family produce cattle, hay and sod. Smith’s family has farmed the land in St. Johns County for more than one-hundred years. His current family farm will be recognized as a Century Pioneer Family Farm in March of 2022.

Smith began his Farm Bureau career as a local volunteer leader and has received the Florida Farm Bureau Outstanding Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award and Discussion Meet Award. He has also served on American Farm Bureau’s advisory committees.

Locally, Smith is serving his second term as St. Johns County Commissioner for District 2 and serves on the Rodeheaver Boys Ranch Board of Directors. He has served on multiple local boards including, the Hastings Drainage District, the Farm Service Agency, St. Johns County Overall Extension Advisory Committee and the 4-H Association Board of Directors.

Smith studied at Ambassador Baptist College in Shelby, NC and is the founding pastor of God’s Way Baptist Church in Hastings.

Jeb and his wife, Wendy, have been married for more than 27 years. They have four grown children: Jared (m. Kamryn), Cady, Jeremy, and Cayla.

St. Lucie County President, Gary “Bud” Roberts, is a South Florida native, born and raised in Fort Pierce. His family began a nursery business in the late 1970s and produce woody ornamentals, landscape trees, native trees-oaks, pines and crepe myrtles. The Roberts’ family history in Florida Farm Bureau dates back to 1986 when Roberts’ father, Gary Sr., was the state Achievement in Agriculture Award winner.

“My dad served on the local board of directors and I remember being involved in Farm Bureau community at a young age,” he said.  Roberts attended the university of Florida where he received a bachelors degree in business and environmental horticulture in 2006. Upon graduation, he returned home to the family farm.

Today, Gary Roberts Nursery is a full-scale nursery operation which includes 10 acres of grapes on the vine. “Ten years ago we began Summer Crush Vineyard and Winery, and we grow Muscadine grapes,” he said. Roberts got involved in the St. Lucie County Farm Bureau by joining the local board in 2017 where he has served as treasurer and secretary. January 2022 will mark his one-year term as president.

“I remember growing up spending my summers potting plants and working on the landscape crew,” Roberts mentioned. “I got to experience all phases of the business and a little bit of everything.” Roberts and his wife Ariana, a kindergarten schoolteacher, live on the family farm with their two children.

Roberts said that there are two main events in St. Lucie County that he is particularly proud of, one of them being the annual Cattle Extravaganza cattle show at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds. In its second year, the event encourages local youth to be involved and expresses the many facets of Florida agriculture. Past YF&R State Leadership Group member, Kyle Patterson, has helped spearhead the event which takes place in December.

For the past 17 years, St. Lucie County Farm Bureau has held the annual Clay Shoot which supports the county’s Youth Enhancement Fund. “We distribute usually between 3-5 scholarships to someone pursuing a career/degree in agriculture,” Roberts stated.  “We also give out teacher mini-grants to local teachers who incorporate ag in their classrooms.”

“The agriculture industry has changed significantly in the last several years. Getting people involved in Ag has been difficult,” he said. ” We need to, as a grassroots organization, continue educating the public about Ag and what it means to our communities and explaining how important it is to our everyday life.”

Congratulations to Broward County Farm Bureau and Hillsborough County Farm Bureau for being selected as winners in the American Farm Bureau Federation County Activities of Excellence program! Broward County Farm Bureau won for their COVID Testing project. Hillsborough County Farm Bureau won for their Ag-Venture in a Box project. Members from these counties came together to implement new, innovative efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic that positively impacted individuals throughout their local communities.

All 18 winners will have the opportunity to be showcased at the 2022 American Farm Bureau Convention in Atlanta, Georgia.  We look forward to sharing more information about their individual, winning projects soon.