November is a time for honoring our Veterans, gathering our harvests, and recognizing the significance of agriculture in America. The Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce, the UF/IFAS Extension Service, the Florida Forest Service, and the USDA National Resources Conservation Service, feel it is important to highlight the significance of agriculture to our local economy by honoring some of our many hard working farmers.
In 1955 the National Farm–City Council established “Farm-City” events to celebrate the importance of agriculture to the economies of local communities. On Nov. 18, 2011, the President of the United States recognized this connection when he proclaimed the week prior to Thanksgiving Day as ‘National Farm-City’ week, asking Americans to “honor the individuals, families, and communities who provide us the staple foods that sustain our Nation.”
Farmers and buyers need each other. These essential partnerships ensure the availability of safe and plentiful foods. They also ensure farmers continue the use of research-based best management practices which sustain the quality of our treasured environments for future generations.
Florida produces nearly 300 different agricultural products. It farms more than 9.2 million acres of land, which is about 1/3 of the state. Florida produces about 67% of oranges for the U.S. and accounts for about 40% of the world’s orange juice supply, employees more than 1.9 million people and contributes over $130 billion to the state’s economy.
Calhoun County farmers are an important part of Florida’s agricultural industry. About 20,000 acres of crops are grown each year in Calhoun County with a value of approximately $16 million. In recent years: approximately 7,000 acres of cotton; 5,000 acres of peanuts; 3,000 acres of soybeans, and 1,000 acres of corn are planted each year. The acres planted and harvested vary from year to year depending on the markets, the weather, occurrence of disease, insects, weeds, and even depredation by deer and wild hogs. Calhoun’s agriculture also includes dairy and beef cattle, goats, hay, honeybees, poultry, lumber, pine straw, and yes, even Koi!
According to a 2010 University of Florida Economic Study,- agriculture, natural resources, and related industries ranked first in Economic contributions of all industry groups in Calhoun County. Total output was $128 million and 1,142 jobs.
As a group, sharing similar interests, participants can learn from each other, share resources, educate the youth of the next generation, and strengthen their economic status as well as the strengthen the local economy.
To conduct the business of agriculture, our farmers must also be economists, meteorologists, veterinarians, mechanics, botanists, pest control experts, soil scientists, lifelong students, and land managers.
In honor of Calhoun County’s local agricultural producers, the following awards were presented at the Nov. 22 Farm-City Awards Luncheon.
2013 NRCS Conservation Farmer of the Year Steve “Beaver” Yoder Jr.: Mr. Yoder, locally known as “Beaver,” farms 500 acres of soybeans, corn, and peanuts, and grazes cattle on 800 acres of improved pasture in Calhoun County. The Yoder family has farmed in Calhoun County for 3 generations (Steve Yoder Jr., Steve Yoder Sr., and Monroe Yoder). With generations of experience passed down to Steve, he knows the importance of conserving and enhancing his soil, water, and forage resources so he can one day pass the land to the next generation. Steve improves his soil by implementing conservation tillage practices including strip-tillage and the use of cover crops. These practices improve soil health and increase yields by minimizing tillage, building organic matter, and reducing nutrient applications. Steve manages both cow-calf and stocker cattle operations. He implements prescribed grazing practices which include planting winter cover crops and using rotational grazing. Benefits of prescribed grazing include healthier environment, higher quality forage, and healthier cows.
2012 Calhoun County Agriculture Innovator: Rodger and Marcia Price of Harmony Farm were recognized as the 2012 Calhoun County Agriculture Innovator. Throughout their 53 year marriage, Rodger and Marcia have had diverse and interesting agricultural ventures. From each experience they learned different farming skills, and into each endeavor they integrated their own innovations. In Calhoun County, between 1993 and 2006, the Prices managed a muscadine vineyard, a fruit orchard, and a Vertigro hydroponic system with strawberries. Currently, they grow 24 acres of perennial peanuts. Many of their innovations include building needed tools by customizing equipment they already had. For example, some of these improvised tools included a boom-mounted hedge trimmer, a custom tractor-mounted rake, a directed-spray pesticide applicator, a custom grape sorting/packing device, and a computer controlled, 12-zone, irrigation system. All were designed and built by Rodger and Marcia, and each piece of equipment was necessary to efficiently grow their crops, manage pests and disease, and make harvesting, storing, and marketing cost-effective. Rodger and Marcia always eagerly promote agricultural awareness and appreciation through their many hours of community service with UF/IFAS Extension, USDA Farm Service Agency, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, as Master Gardeners, High School Envirothon Team leaders, and NRCS committee members.
2013 Forest Landowner of the Year Jackie Sewell: Mr. Sewell has been a forest landowner for many years in Calhoun County. He has worked closely with the Florida Forest Service since 1990, which also means he has worked closely with three different County Foresters (Joey Brady, Steve Oswalt, and Ariel Sewell)! He manages many acres of forestland and implements good forestry best management practices such as prescribed burning and mowing. Mr. Sewell has recently planted 35 acres of longleaf pine. Although long leaf pine requires a bit more management during establishment, it is one of the best pines to plant for landowners as well as our environment. Of all the southern pine species, longleaf pine is the hardiest and has the greatest longevity. When managed properly by foresters like Mr. Sewell, longleaf pine forests develop a stable grass ecosystem, providing ideal habitat for many plants and animals.
2013 NW Extension District Agricultural Innovator: Oglesby Plants International is well known in the ornamental plant industry as a leading supplier of young plants for commercial growers around the world. The company’s founder, Raymond P. Oglesby was always on the cutting edge of plant propagation, and in the mid 1970s he started working with plant tissue culture, or cloning, making it a commercial reality as a reliable and efficient method for producing millions of high quality nursery plants. The Oglesby Family first bought property in Altha in the early 1970’s. The nursery was established at the current site in the early 80’s, and the lab was moved to Altha, from Hollywood in 1984. On average, it takes a minimum of five years to deliver a tested variety to the market.
Oglesby is known worldwide for its plant production techniques but, more significantly, Oglesby is known locally for its generous and consistent community partnerships. Oglesby routinely supports Extension programs such as the 4-H Learning Gardens and local school agriculture programs. They are also a source of employment for local citizens and young adults interested in agriculture. At the University of Florida, the Oglesby family created the Raymond P. and Jane F. Oglesby Scholarship. This Scholarship was established because they felt strongly about supporting young people entering the plant nursery and horticulture fields.