suwannee county extension’s - university of florida · when rose heard that the suwannee county...

SolutionsForYourLife.org

Helping Suwannee County Grow

Volume 11 Issue 2

April - June 2018

Suwannee County Extension’s

Important Dates 2-4

Four Food Tips 5

Food Waste 6

4-H Summer Camps 7

Body Conditioning of Horses 8

What is the Future of Food? 9

Germinating Free Seeds for Your Spring Garden 10

Native Plant Spotlight 11

Effect of Corn Variety 12

What is the Future Of Food? (cont.) 15

Back

Suwannee County Extension Office

1302 11th St. SW Live Oak, FL 32064-3611

(386) 362-2771

When Rose moved to her new house and property in Suwannee County,

the lawn was struggling, weeds were thriving, and traffic noise kept her awake

at night. In the time between purchasing the property and moving in, Rose’s

neighbor cut down his pine trees. Rose was left with the noise of traffic on I-

10. In addition, large Live Oak trees shaded her

house and lawn area which allowed shade loving

weeds to take over. Moving to Florida for

retirement, Rose was looking for peace and serenity.

She needed to block out the unsightly view and

noise.

When Rose heard that the Suwannee County

Extension offered landscaping classes, she decided to

attend. Once a participant, she realized there was a

lot to learn about Florida gardening. Then, she heard

about the Master Gardener Volunteer program

which not only helped her learn about Florida

gardening, but also was a great way to meet people.

For her required Master Gardener class project,

Rose chose to research hedge plants to screen the

traffic on I-10. During her presentation to the class, Rose highlighted her top

ten plant selections. After visiting the demonstration gardens at Heritage Park

and Gardens in Live Oak, Rose narrowed her

choices. Rose purchased 150 plants and planted

them to create staggered hedge rows. Dragging

a hose around to 150 plants was difficult and

time consuming. After learning about and

assembling a low volume irrigation system in

class, Rose installed micro-irrigation to water

her new plants. After seven months, Rose

reported only one plant died. Her $1,200.00

investment was a success. She also stated,

“The irrigation system saved me hundreds of

hours of labor and gave me time to volunteer

helping others at church and through the Master

Gardener program.”

After training, Rose planted

shade tolerant plants and

installed low volume irrigation in

an area where lawn grass was

struggling due to low light levels.

Visit our website: www.suwannee.ifas.ufl.edu

Extension Successes

Aerial photo showing pines

removed leaving Rose’s

house (within red line) ex-

posed to the traffic noise and

undesirable view of I-10.

3 Rural Health, 6:00pm-7:00pm at Gethsemane Church of God in Christ. To sign-up for classes or for

more information contact Kim Griffin at 386-362-2771.

4 Master Gardener Greenhouse Workday, 9:00am at Extension Office.

4 Master Gardener Seed Library, 1:00-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.

4 Florida Association of Agriculture Agents Horticulture Tour of Heritage Park and Gardens and

Rooney’s Back Porch Blueberry Farm.

5 Master Gardener Seed Library, 10:00am-12:00pm at Dowling Park Library.

5 Master Gardener Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, Heritage Park and Gardens.

7 State Horse Judging Contest, Gainesville.

7 Master Gardener Plant Sale, 8:30am-1pm, Live Oak Garden Club.

10 Rural Health, 6:00pm-7:00pm at Gethsemane Church of God in Christ.

10 Florida Native Plant Society, 6:30pm at Hatch Park in Branford.

11 Master Gardener Greenhouse Workday, 8;30-11am at Extension Office.


11 Master Gardener Seed Library Workshop-Summer Greens, 2:00pm-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.

11 HCE (Home and Community Educators) Meeting, 10:00am-12:00pm at Extension Office.

12 Master Gardener Workday & Alumni Meeting, 8:30am-1:00pm at Heritage Park.

12 4-H SPIN Club, 3-5pm at Heritage Park and Gardens Disc Golf Course.

12 4-H County Council, 6:30pm at Extension Office.

13 Overall Advisory Committee Meeting, 12:00am-2:00pm at Extension Office.

14 Florida Native Plant Society Plant Sale, Morningside Native Center, Gainesville.

14 State 4-H Forest Ecology Contest, Gainesville.

14 State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest, Gainesville.

14 Catfish Festival, Branford.

14 Alligator Lake Festival, Lake City.




19 Lunch & Learn Gardening Series-Selecting & Pruning for Wind Resistant Trees, 12:00-1:00pm

at Live Oak Library.


20 Deer Plot Field Day, 10am-12pm, NFREC-SV, call Jane Griffin for more information,

386-362-2771.

21 State 4-H Meat Judging Contest, Gainesville.



25 TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 10:00am at Community Church of God.



26 TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 9:00am at First Advent Christian Church.

26 Lunch & Learn Food Demonstration, 12:00pm-1:00pm at Live Oak Library.

27 Arbor Day Program with Suwannee County Forester, Heritage Park and Gardens, Time TBD, take

home free tree seedlings.

April 2018 - Call 386-326-2771

Extension Calendar

2

Extension Calendar

May 2018 - Call 386-362-2771





3 State 4-H Poultry Judging, Gainesville.

4 Tropicana Speech Contest for homeschool, Extension Office.

8 Florida Native Plant Society—Sparkleberry Chapter, 6:30pm at Hatch Park in Branford.



9 Master Gardener Seed Library Workshop-Propagation, 2:00-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.



11 Agriculture Lunch ‘n Learn Series for Leaders, North Florida Research and Education Center-

Suwannee Valley, call De Broughton for more information at 386-362-2771.

14 4-H County Council, 6:30pm at Extension Office.




16-17

SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Program) 5:30-8:30 pm. Two night series helping you to understand

the home buying process. Great speakers include local banker, Realtor, and Extension Agents. Learn

how to save money and use energy efficient appliances and products. Call Extension office to sign up

386-362-2771—Contact Suwannee River Economic Council for information on the application process at

386-362-4115 x 242. Class held in Live Oak. Must attend both nights to qualify for down-payment

assistance.


17 Lunch & Learn Gardening Series-Plant Propagation, 12:00-1:00pm at Live Oak Library.

17 Pesticide Training, North Florida Research and Education Center-Suwannee Valley, call De Broughton

for more information at 386-362-2771.

18 Tropicana Speech Contest—County Contest at Extension Office.

22 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, 11:30am-1:30pm Exh II .



23 TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 10:00am at Community Church of God.


24 TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 9:00am at First Advent Christian Church.

28 Memorial Day Holiday—Extension Office Closed.



3

Extension Calendar

June 2018 - Call 386-362-2771




7 Peanut Lunch ‘n Learn Pioneer Skills Series, Suwannee River Regional Library, call De Broughton for

more information at 386-362-2771.


11-14 Kebab Day Camp, call the Extension Office for more information, call 386-362-2771.

12 Florida Native Plant Society, 6:30pm at Hatch Park in Branford.





15-17 4-H Intermediate State, Camp Cherry Lake, Madison, FL.

18-20 Pony Camp, call the Extension Office for more information, call 386-362-2771.





25-29 4-H Legislature, Tallahassee.

26

National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe course for national food manager certification, 8:30am at

Extension Office. Certification is good for 5 yrs. Class, exam & book $165. Must register 3 business days

prior to class, no walk-ins. Bring lunch and photo ID. Call toll-free 1-888-232-8723 or via web

http://bit.ly/2z0YJiO.

26-27 Master Gardener Leadership School, Ocala, FL.




4

http://bit.ly/2z0YJiO

http://bit.ly/2z0YJiO

Four Tips for Your Own Love Affair

Katherine Allen County Extension Director/Family & Consumer Sciences Agent

I LOVE food. I was brought up in a family where food

was shared to show love. My parents had restaurants,

so hospitality and making people feel welcome was

done through food. I have always been active, but

never considered incorporating regularly scheduled

physical activity into my lifestyle until more recently.

The general rule of thumb is that after you turn 30, your

metabolism slows for every decade. I have definitely

noticed that things on my body aren’t where they used

to be and that I am more sluggish. People look at my

body frame and size and make a judgment about how

easy it must be to maintain

my weight. It isn’t. So, the

first tip is to know where

you are. Weigh yourself at

least once a week. Weight is

just one indicator of how

you are meeting your goals.

I use how my clothes

(especially my pants) feel

and fit as another indicator.

I can definitely tell when I

have gained a little weight in

the morning when I get

dressed without ever having

stepped on a scale. Knowing where you are is

important in making sure you are paying attention to the

calories consumed for your body and the physical

exercise to burn them.

The second tip to be able to continue the love affair

with food is by NOT skipping meals, especially

breakfast. When you give your body fuel in the

morning, it starts your metabolism burning calories

rather than waiting until lunch (or whenever you have

your first snack in the day). Breakfast doesn’t have to

be breakfast foods. Consider foods high in protein and

whole grains. In other parts of the world, beans are

eaten for breakfast!!

The third tip and one of the hardest for me is to not

drink your calories. I enjoy sodas and lemonade, but

one soda is around 150 calories. Sometimes these

liquid calories are called mindless calories because they

go down so easily. Eating a food is more satisfying and

provides the body with much needed nutrients.

Consider how you can reduce the calories in your

beverages. Move to a lower fat milk. Order half and

half tea. Remember, water or soda water has zero

calories.

The fourth tip that has

carried me far is by

staying away from fried

foods and fast food.

Grilled, broiled and

baked foods are so much

better for you and allow

you to meet your calorie

goals if you are counting.

Eating at a sit down

restaurant or at home

provides you with

healthier options for sides

(what?! Like vegetables?!). Don’t be shy about asking

your server if they have a healthy alternative to fries.

Eating at home has allowed me to save money as well

as calories. Now, if only I can make the dishes

disappear!

I still LOVE food. I like to cook it, eat it and talk about

it. But, I know that if I am going to enjoy it, I had

better take some steps like reducing my portion sizes

and planning my snacks. I don’t want to feel guilty

enjoying my love affair….with food.

5

Are you one of those people that cringe when you see perfectly good food being thrown in the trash? Well, you are

not alone. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is celebrating National Nutrition Month with the theme: “Go

Further With Food.” This is a call to action on addressing food waste, which is one of the most urgent challenges

that we face today. The USDA graphic below shows a startling statistic of why food waste matters and the urgent

need to go further with food.

The US Department of Agriculture reports that the U.S.

spends more than $162 billion to grow, process and

transport food that is never consumed while a National

Resources Defense Council estimates that 40% of all

edible food produced in the US is not eaten.

Furthermore, Americans waste approximately 20 percent

of the vegetables and 15 percent of the fruits inside and

outside of the home. As consumers we must become

more aware of how to properly, buy, handle and store

food and here is how.

4 Steps to Preventing Produce Waste:

Shop Smart for Fruits and Vegetables

Buy only what you need unless you have specific plans to preserve the food by canning, freezing, ect.

Avoid shopping at farmers’ markets during the heat of the day as it can alter the quality of produce.

Store Produce Properly

Store perishable produce such as leafy greens and berries in a refrigerator at 40 degrees F or below.

Separate produce that that may contribute to overly quick ripening of other produce.

Think Sensibly When Preparing Fruits and Vegetables

Clean and use the entire fruit or vegetable when possible.

Freeze excess fruits and vegetables in air tight containers. Vegetables should be partially cooked to

preserve their flavor, color and texture.

Compost Scraps

Take scraps to a local farmers’ market that collects scraps for composting

Compost at home, here is a guide https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home

Simple Steps to Reduce Overall Food Waste:

Assess the foods that you currently have at home. Make a menu and grocery list and buy only what you need.

Put refrigerated and frozen food items at the end of your grocery list and purchase those foods last. Be sure to

refrigerate or freeze these items within 2 hours of shopping.

Check the date on the food package to help choose a product at the best quality.

Track food storage times on The FoodKeeper App.

Rotate food items. Foods are less likely to spoil when you use the older items first.

Give leftovers a makeover by using them in a new recipe, freezing them for later use or blending fruit or

vegetables into a smoothie.

Donate excess food to shelters, food banks or communities of faith.

For a better tomorrow, let’s do our part to reduce food waste. As the proverbial saying goes “Waste not, want not.”

FOOD WASTE: Why it Matters

Kim Griffin

Family and Consumer Sciences

6

Less food waste = Less people who lack access to food.

https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home

Derby Sale

4-H and Youth Development Agent

Have Fun with 4-H Summer Camps

7

After Spring Break and Fair, a lot of families are sure to

start looking towards their summer plans. One of the

great ways that a child can spend their summer is to take

advantage of 4-H summer camps through UF/IFAS

Extension in Suwannee County.

The Extension Office plans to hold at least five different

day camps, ranging from three to five days, that are sure

to get your youth excited about getting out of the house

and getting their hands dirty. We are still currently in the

planning process, so be on the lookout on our Facebook

page at www.facebook.com/groups/Suwannee4H and

our website at suwannee.ifas.ufl.edu to make sure your

youth get registered! Information is currently available.

Another great opportunity for youth during the summer

is a week at 4-H Camp Cherry Lake, located just north

of Madison. While the traditional camp programs such

as canoeing, swimming, recreational sports, and archery

will be available, Cherry Lake’s prime location on the

water allows for great opportunities in marine and

environmental science education. A typical day at camp

involves three square meals, free time for campers to

participate in a wide variety of activities, hands-on

experiential education sessions, and campfires which

allow youth to round out their days by singing their

favorite camp songs or participate in skits and games.

An important aspect of a residential camping experience,

such as 4-H Camp Cherry Lake, is the responsibility that

the youth have over their cabins. While your child is at

camp, they will experience group living in a cabin

setting where important life skills are learned. These life

skills include getting along with others and

consideration for those around you. Campers assume full

responsibility for their cabin and compete for the daily

clean cabin award while also helping with dining room

and general camp chores in a team atmosphere.

Along with those life skills learned within the cabin,

parents/guardians have also reported that their campers

made improvements in the areas of self-esteem,

leadership, social skills, character development, decision

-making, and citizenship as a result of attending 4-H

camp. Youth have reported that they learned how to

make their own decisions, be responsible for their own

actions, and felt accepted for who they are as a result of

4-H camp. It is our goal here in Suwannee County to

allow youth the amazing opportunity to spend a week at

Cherry Lake, make new friends and memories, gain the

life skills listed earlier in this article, and experience one

of the best weeks of their lives.

If you have or know any youth that are interested in

spending a week at 4-H Camp Cherry Lake, give the

Extension Office a call at 386-362-2771 and ask for

Derby Sale, 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent.

Youth from Suwannee and other surrounding

counties show off their goofy sides after a paint

war at 4-H Camp Cherry Lake

http://www.facebook.com/groups/Suwannee4H

Body Conditioning of Horses and Why You Do It

8

Jane Griffin

Livestock Forage/Natural Resources Extension Agent

Equine body condition scoring (BCS) is an appraisal of

the overall nutritional status of horses and is a balance

between feed intake and energy output. Factors that

influence BCS include supplementation, pasture,

internal parasite loads, age, teeth maintenance, and

performance demands. This tool can be used on all

breeds, and is a simple evaluation of fat and muscle

deposited in key areas that are both observed and felt.

Figure 1. Areas of importance in Equine BCS.

Each animal must be scored based on their own

characteristics, considering frame size and excluding

hair cover. The system is based on a scale of 1 to 9, 1

being emaciated and 9 being obese. As animal

owners, it is important to remember that horses rely

solely on your management to get the nutrition that

they require, and this tool can help you either save

money if your horses are too heavy or, more

importantly, increase the quality of life and

performance of your animals if they are too thin. An

animal in the range of 4-6 is considered ideal. Horses

under 4 are too thin and will require additional

supplementation while horses over 6 may be too heavy.

If you evaluate the BCS of your horses and you find

that some are too thin, the first thing to do is to rule out

health problems, and your vet will be able to assist you

with this. The second thing to do is to evaluate your

feed program. Horses need to be fed by pounds, not

scoops. Many feed companies offer online calculators

to help horse owners more easily decipher how much

supplement your horse should be getting based on body

weight.

If you have never had your horse weighed, there are

tapes available or your local extension agent may be able

to assist with a scale.

Animals depend on their owners to provide adequate

feed, and sometimes owners simply do not know be-

cause they have never been taught. If you have any

questions about your feed program, pasture manage-

ment, or animal health, a veterinarian is a great place to

start. Additionally, your local Livestock Agent can help

and connect you with University professionals that spe-

cialize in Equine Science.

BCS-1: No fatty tissue can be felt, ribs are extremely

evident, bone structure is easily seen.

BCS-5: Back is level, ribs can be felt but not seen, spon-

gy fat around tailhead, rounded wither.

BCS-9: Patchy fat over ribs, bulging fat around tailhead,

filled flank.

What is the Future of Food?

De Broughton

Agriculture Extension Agent-Commercial Crops

Agriculture provides the fundamental sustenance of life,

and without it no society can survive. Agriculture

impacts the food, health, economy, environment,

technology, and well-being of all. By the year 2050, it is

projected that the world’s population will reach 9 billion

people, requiring agricultural production to double with

less land and water, while sustaining the inhabitants of

our planet. More food will need to be produced in the

next 50 years than the past 10,000 years combined. The

U.S. agricultural industry (all agricultural related sectors

combined) produces about $992 billion toward Gross

Domestic Product (GDP) annually, and approximately 21

million U.S. workers are employed in food and fiber

industries. (USDA Economic Research Service).

Food supply and availability are beginning to fall behind.

The issues with food production stem from a variety of

factors: less land is available for farming, decreasing

agricultural productivity, the high cost of agricultural

investments, technology and inputs, and an increased

demand for biofuels. Each year, food production around

the world is becoming more and more of a challenge for

those involved in producing our food. The world is

expecting a food crisis in the future, so much that the

World Bank and the United Nations predict that by 2050,

there may not be enough food to feed the world's

population with the current technology being used and

farming methods in place today.

In order to feed the growing population, investments in

agriculture are needed to keep up with the growing

demand of consumption. Farms, often considered family

businesses, are evolving and changing the way we once

experienced agriculture. For example, the average farmer

in America is in his or her late 50s and does not have a

successor stepping up to take over. In many cases,

corporations are purchasing smaller farming entities, and

as a result farmland is becoming largely consolidated in

various areas of the US. High production costs, unstable

commodity prices, high costs of freight, regulatory

pressure, and land availability are just a few of the many

reasons youth are not interested in following in the

footsteps of those before them. Unless the government

subsidizes farms, the emerging farming technologies cost

far more than most farmers can afford. At this point in

time, farmers find it difficult to find the necessary

financial backing to make these innovations prove to be

cost effective for their operations. As we consider the

challenges of the American farmer, I’d like to provide a

quote from President John F. Kennedy of our recent past:

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys

everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, pays the

freight both ways."

In conclusion, the next time you stroll through the

produce aisle at your local food market and grimace

about ticket prices on fresh produce, just remember that

those products are grown at a high cost. Furthermore, the

average retail cost for our food is not likely to decline

any time soon. However, new ideas and innovations to

assist farming endeavors are surfacing each day. With

safe, genetically engineered crops being a heavily

studied concept, and with more cost-effective precision

technology options, there is optimism to continue to feed

an exponentially growing population. In addition, new

research is continually being conducted on growing

crops with less pressure to the environment, studies on

higher yielding crops, minimizing inputs, etc. Becoming

more aware of the agricultural production challenges in

our state and nation will help us as consumers minimize

waste and appreciate the value in having delicious,

nutrient rich vegetables and meats at our finger-tips any

time we want. I hope to continue to have an abundance

and a variety of fresh nutritious food items available to

my family in the future. How about you?

9

Local farmer Randall Dasher, with UF/IFAS Agriculture

Extension Agent Bob Hochmuth, seen here leading an

educational tour of the various types of agriculture grown in

our region.

(continued on page 13)

Carolyn Saft

Horticulture & Environmental Agent

Did you know you can get free seeds from local seed libraries? The Live Oak, Dowling Park, Ft. White, and

West Columbia libraries have partnered with UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener volunteers to provide free seeds

to anyone who has a library card. You can get vegetable, herb and flower seeds for free. Check with the library for

seed library times, as most are staffed by Master Gardener volunteers

once a week:

Live Oak Library – Each Wednesday from 1pm-3pm

Dowling Park Library – 1st & 3rd Thursdays from 10am-12pm

Ft. White Library – Each Wednesday from 2pm-4pm

West Columbia Library – 1st & 3rd Tuesdays from 2pm-4pm

Most gardeners know that viable seeds are living entities. Viable seeds must have healthy embryonic tissue to

germinate. Each plant species require particular moisture levels and temperature ranges to germinate their seeds.

Moisture levels is critical to seed germination. Seeds and soil should be kept moist, but not water logged. Seeds

rapidly absorb water (imbibition) causing the seed coat to swell and become soft. The radicle, or root, emerges first

and penetrates the soil and absorbs water. Next, the cotyledon, or seed leaves emerge. The seed leaves provide the

plant with food until the true leaves develop. Finally, true leaves develop and your seedling will grow quickly in

warm temperatures and a little slower in cool temperature.

The soil media needs to have good aeration so gases like carbon dioxide and oxygen can be exchanged.

Additionally, poor drainage or over watering causes disease called damping off. Another important aspect is the

seed must have good contact with the soil for high germination success. Keep in mind, if you put seeds in flats, the

edges will dry out quicker than the middle.

Not all seeds have the same light requirements. Some seeds must be germinated in total darkness while others

need light. Once the seeds germinate, all seedlings require light so they don’t become leggy and topple over.

If you start your seeds indoors, or in a greenhouse, you have to harden off your seedlings before planting in full

sun in the garden. Place the flat in bright light or morning sun for a few hours a day. Increase the sunlight intensity

over a couple of weeks, then they can be planted in the garden. Most vegetable and herb seeds germinate easily,

however landscape plants can be a little more challenging due to seed dormancy.

Stay tuned to the Center Pivot, as the next issue will cover seed dormancy.

10

Germinating Free Seeds for Your Spring Garden

SCENTLESS MOCKORANGE - Philadelphus inodorus

Our native Scentless Mockorange is one of the spring blooming plants that can just make you smile! After being

asleep during winter, it comes back to life in early spring with small bright green leaves and a multitude of

pointed flower buds at the tips of all it’s branches. Soon those buds open into a display of bright white flowers

that cover the whole shrub. The flowers, up to 2” wide, resemble those of our flowering Dogwood trees. The

arching nature of the branches can sometimes make it as wide as it is tall and it can sometimes have a rangy

appearance. Scentless Mockorange is common from Texas through the southeast and into Canada. With north

Florida at the southern end of it’s native range, it likes protection from midday sun. It blooms, even in a shady

location and only needs watering in droughty conditions. It likely will need supplemental irrigation when

planted in a sunny site, otherwise it grows happily with very little care.

There are many non-native plants known as Philadelphus or Mockorange that grow throughout the world. That

includes one called English Dogwood (Philadelphus coronarius) that has sweetly scented flowers and is very

similar in appearance to, and is frequently confused with, native Scentless Mockorange. Our native has flowers

that are not fragrant as is implied in both the common name (Scentless) and the species name (inodorus). Be

aware that other species do not always adapt to the weather conditions experienced in Florida. Be sure you are

getting a real Florida Native Plant.

Common name: Scentless Mockorange

Scientific name (Genus and species): Philadelphus inodorus

Family: Hydrangeaceae - Hydrangea

family.

Description: Deciduous shrub to 12’ tall x

8’ wide, multi-trunked, exfoliating bark,

multi-branched arching stems. Typically

8’x 5’ in our area.

Leaves: Opposite leaves, variably shaped,

usually elliptic and softly toothed, small

bright green.

Flowers: Large white unscented flowers at

tips of branches in Spring, four petals,

frequently in groups of two or three. Small

brown seed capsules follow in Summer and

persist till Winter.

Growing conditions: Prefers rich, moist

soil and part shade. Good drought

tolerance in shaded conditions. Will grow

in more sun, but may require supplemental irrigation.

Propagation: Can be grown from seed or softwood cuttings.

Wildlife attractor: Butterflies and pollinators attracted to flowers for pollen and nectar.

Other features: Very showy in bloom, long blooming season. Mixes well in planters, blends into naturalistic

areas. Rarely found in the wild other than in a few panhandle counties.

Carol Sullivan

Master Gardener Volunteer

Native Plant Spotlight

11

The Effect of Corn Variety Choice on Yield and Nitrogen Budgeting

The value of comparison Varietal testing has been a hallmark of land grant universities to ensure unbiased reviews of new crop genetics gets

in the hands of the farmer. Since the passage of the Hatch Act in 1887, research trials have been conducted

independently on new crop varieties to be sure the industry advertising “new and improved” are in fact superior to

the old and trusted. With repeated testing under real-world conditions, the University of Florida/IFAS continues to

serve the public with such timely and objective comparisons.

Variety trial results Our 2017 Live Oak trials this year included 12 varieties from 6 local companies with 4 replications. Although we

have also done single variety split-plot trials in growers’ fields, planting multiple plots of the same variety in the

same field allowed us to do statistics. Average yields were 199 bushels per acre with 237 pounds of nitrogen

applied (See table 1). As breeding delivers stronger disease and insect resistant packages to the market, we’ll

continue to compare them side-by-side. Many seed catalogs now show response to nitrogen and response to

population, to help you make decisions that fit your machinery and farm operation more closely.

Table 1. 2017 Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center (SVAEC) Corn BMP Variety Trial Yield Results

The 2017 corn crop The forecasted La Niña crop year of 2017 brought a cool spring and rainy summer.

Acreage for grain and silage corn was down 6% in Florida at 75,000 acres while

yields were up 11% at 161 bushels per acre, leading to an overall higher production

year (almost 6 million bushels). A bumper crop in the Midwest depressed prices

which have drifted down to $3.80 this winter. Some folks planting before the March

17th frost may have been nervous, but if the growing was still underground, they did

not suffer loses. Early cold spells slowed down development, but the heat came on

to exceed previous year Crop Heat Units by +174. Luckily most Florida irrigated

corn avoided the worst of the hurricane weather as growers are encouraged to plant

early (before May 1st) to avoid excessive moisture, insects and disease associated

with early fall. Close monitoring of FAWN (the Florida Agriculture Weather

Network) and soil moisture sensors (Sentek, Aquaspy and Decagon) helped some

growers manage and deliver inputs of water and nutrients in a timely manner. If you haven’t employed these as part

of your “eyes and ears on the crop”, consider asking an Ag agent to come show you how.

Variety

code detail CRM

stalk

strength

(1-5) rep#1 rep#2 rep#3 rep#4

AveYield

(bpa) varAgratech2 85VT2P CRM=120 4 242 192 236 213 221 518

Armor1 1717 CRM=117 4.5 208 218 227 207 215 85

Pioneer1 P1794VYHR CRM=117 2.5 241 184 216 203 211 575

Armor2 AXC7118 CRM=120 5 226 197 212 197 208 198

Cropland1 5678 CRM=116 4.5 250 190 171 198 202 1165

Syngenta2 N83D-3111 CRM=118 5 223 220 202 157 200 936

Cropland2 6640vt3/p CRM=113 3.25 207 173 195 208 196 277

Dekalb2 64-34 CRM=114 5 191 172 192 224 195 477

Pioneer2 P1662YHR CRM=116 4.75 191 189 211 168 190 299

Syngenta1 N78S-3111 CRM=116 4.75 150 190 218 195 188 788

Agratech1 65VT2P CRM=114 5 165 205 165 204 185 515

Dekalb1 67-42 CRM=117 4.75 187 169 189 170 179 117

allvarietytotals 4 207 191 203 195 199 496

12

Patrick Troy

Regional Specialized Agent, Row Crops

What is the Future of Food?

Sources:

Alexandratos, N. and J. Bruinsma. 2012. World agriculture towards 2030/2050: the 2012 revision. ESA Working paper No. 12-03. Rome,

FAO.

Athearn, K., Hodges, A., Broughton, D., and Griffin, J. 2017. Suwannee County’s Agricultural Economy.

Mancino, L., Guthrie J., VerPloeg, M., Lin, B. USDA Economic Service. Nutritional Quality of Foods Acquired by Americans: Findings

From USDA’s National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey. Economic Information Bulletin No. (EIB-188) 41 pp.

Witlin, R. Global Food Crisis Response Program, The World Bank. http://www.worldbank.org/en/results/2013/04/11/global-food-crisis-

response-program-results-profile

13

UF/IFAS Extension and local Farm Bureau lead

a discussion with youth attending the annual Fall

Harvest Experience on the health and production

aspects of the sweet potato crop. This crop has

become a popular and environmentally friendly

alternative to other traditional North Florida

crops.

(continued from page 9)

"An Equal Opportunity Institution”

For persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations, please contact our office at least five working days prior to

the program so that proper consideration may be given to the request. For the hearing impaired, please contact the Florida

Relay Center Service at 1-800-955-8771.

Use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. It is not a guarantee or

warranty of product named and does not signify approval to the exclusion of others of suitable composition.

Katherine Allen, County Extension Director (CED) /

Agent, Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS)

Kim Griffin, Agent, FCS

Bonnie Box, Program Assistant, Family Nutrition

Program (FNP)

Kimberly Glasscock, Staff Assistant, FCS/

Administration Derby Sale, Agent, 4-H/Youth Development

Pam Burke, Administrative Aide, 4-H/Website

Carolyn Saft, Agent, Horticulture/Master Gardener

Volunteer Coordinator

Vacant, Staff Assistant, Horticulture

Jane Griffin, Agent, Livestock, Forage & Natural

Resources

De Broughton, Agent, Commercial Ag Crops

Diane McMillan, Staff Assistant, Agriculture

Bob Hochmuth, Regional Specialized Agent,/

Center Director-NFREC-SV , Vegetables Crops

Patrick Troy, Regional Specialized Agent, Row

Crops

Dr. Kevin Athearn, Regional Specialized Agent,

Agribusiness and Marketing

Dr. Charles Barrett, Regional Specialized Agent,

Water Resources

FREE NEWSLETTER SIGN UP UF/IFAS Extension in Suwannee County publishes The Center

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OUR MISSION OF EDUCATION

UF/IFAS Extension provides practical education you can trust to help people, businesses and communities solve problems, develop skills and build a

better future. When you use UF/IFAS Extension, you can be confident that experts have reviewed and developed educational programs to ensure that

you receive the best information for your needs. UF/IFAS Extension employees and volunteers work hard at improving the quality of life for our

neighbors and communities. We provide solutions to everyday problems. We offer a variety of educational programs and information:

Agriculture and Natural Resources: Local farmers and ranchers are provided technical assistance and education to enhance their profitability and

sustainability.

Horticulture: Programs are designed to meet the needs of residents by utilizing Florida Friendly Landscaping principles.

Master Gardener Volunteer Program: Master Gardener volunteers receive training in exchange for service to the community. The Master Gardener

volunteers staff the Seed Library and hold plant clinics every Wednesday from 1:00-3:00PM, and provide a gardening presentation on the second

Wednesday of each month from 2:00-3:00pm , both at the Live Oak Library. Volunteers also staff a Seed Library and plant clinic at the Branford

Library on Tuesdays from 2:00-5:00pm.

Family and Consumer Sciences: Family and Consumer Sciences programs offer you information about health and nutrition, food safety, food

preservation, money management, home concerns, relationships, and many other topics.

m uses a learn-by-doing approach to help youth gain the knowledge and skills they need to be responsible, productive citizens. This mission is

accomplished by creating safe and inclusive learning environments, involving caring adults, and utilizing the expertise and resources of the University

of Florida and the nationwide land grant university system.

4-H and Youth Development: The UF/IFAS Extension 4-H Youth Development program uses a learn-by-doing approach to help youth gain the

knowledge and skills they need to be responsible, productive citizens. This mission is accomplished by creating safe and inclusive learning

April • Reverse ceiling fans (to blow down) &

clean fan blades.

• Wash black streaks from roof. (Combine

1 part chlorine bleach with 3 parts water

& a handful of trisodium phosphate).

• Wash siding & gutters.

• Scrape & touch up exterior paint, paying

special attention to window sills, gable

vents, garage doors.

May • Complete large exterior painting jobs.

Quit before dusk, so the paint can dry

before the dew forms.

• Clean gas grill & replace any rusted or

damage parts.

• Check crawl space for moisture &

remove debris. If you spot signs of

termites call a pro.

• Test GFCI circuit breakers.

June • Prepare an emergency kit for hurricane

season.

• Vacuum coils behind refrigerators &

freezers to ensure proper operation.

• Check supply hoses to washing

machines. If hoses are soft or cracked

replace them.

• Remove toe panel from front of

dishwasher & check for leaks 14

Home Monthly Maintenance Planner

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