Suwannee County Extension’s - University of Florida · When Rose heard that the Suwannee County...
Transcript of 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, 1:00-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.
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.
17 Rural Health, 6:00pm-7:00pm at Gethsemane Church of God in Christ.
18 Master Gardener Greenhouse Workday, 9:00am at Extension Office.
18 Master Gardener Seed Library, 1:00-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.
19 Lunch & Learn Gardening Series-Selecting & Pruning for Wind Resistant Trees, 12:00-1:00pm
at Live Oak Library.
19 Master Gardener Seed Library, 10:00am-12:00pm at Dowling Park 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.
23 4-H SPIN Club, 3-5pm at Heritage Park and Gardens Disc Golf Course.
24 Rural Health, 6:00pm-7:00pm at Gethsemane Church of God in Christ.
25 TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 10:00am at Community Church of God.
25 Master Gardener Greenhouse Workday, 9:00am at Extension Office.
25 Master Gardener Seed Library, 1:00-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.
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
1 Rural Health, 6:00pm-7:00pm at Gethsemane Church of God in Christ.
2 Master Gardener Greenhouse Workday, 9:00am at Extension Office.
2 Master Gardener Seed Library, 1:00-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.
3 Master Gardener Seed Library, 10:00am-12:00pm at Dowling Park Library.
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 Greenhouse Workday, 9:00am at Extension Office.
9 Master Gardener Seed Library, 1:00-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.
9 Master Gardener Seed Library Workshop-Propagation, 2:00-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.
9 HCE (Home and Community Educators) Meeting, 10:00am-12:00pm at Extension Office.
10 Master Gardener Workday & Alumni Meeting, 9:00am-4:00pm at Heritage Park.
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.
14 4-H SPIN Club, 3-5pm at Heritage Park and Gardens Disc Golf Course.
16 Master Gardener Greenhouse Workday, 9:00am at Extension Office.
16 Master Gardener Seed Library, 1:00-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.
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 Master Gardener Seed Library, 10:00am-12:00pm at Dowling Park Library.
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 Master Gardener Greenhouse Workday, 9:00am at Extension Office.
23 Master Gardener Seed Library, 1:00-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.
23 TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 10:00am at Community Church of God.
24 Lunch & Learn Food Demonstration, 12:00pm-1:00pm at Live Oak Library.
24 TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 9:00am at First Advent Christian Church.
28 Memorial Day Holiday—Extension Office Closed.
30 Master Gardener Greenhouse Workday, 9:00am at Extension Office.
30 Master Gardener Seed Library, 1:00-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.
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Extension Calendar
June 2018 - Call 386-362-2771
6 Master Gardener Greenhouse Workday, 9:00am at Extension Office.
6 Master Gardener Seed Library, 1:00-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.
7 Master Gardener Seed Library, 10:00am-12:00pm at Dowling Park Library.
7 Peanut Lunch ‘n Learn Pioneer Skills Series, Suwannee River Regional Library, call De Broughton for
more information at 386-362-2771.
11 4-H SPIN Club, 3-5pm at Heritage Park and Gardens Disc Golf Course.
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.
13 Master Gardener Greenhouse Workday, 9:00am at Extension Office.
13 Master Gardener Seed Library, 1:00-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.
13 HCE (Home and Community Educators) Meeting, 10:0am-12:00pm at Extension Office.
14 Master Gardener Workday & Alumni Meeting, 9:00am-1:00pm at Heritage Park.
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.
20 Master Gardener Greenhouse Workday, 9:00am at Extension Office.
20 Master Gardener Seed Library, 1:00-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.
21 Master Gardener Seed Library, 10:00am-12:00pm at Dowling Park Library.
25 4-H SPIN Club, 3-5pm at Heritage Park and Gardens Disc Golf Course.
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.
27 Master Gardener Greenhouse Workday, 9:00am at Extension Office.
27 Master Gardener Seed Library, 1:00-3:00pm at Live Oak Library.
28 Lunch & Learn Food Demonstration, 12:00pm-1:00pm at Live Oak Library.
4
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.
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
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)
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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
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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
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