Friday, August 2, 2013 – Tours

Note: Due to overlapping times, only one Friday tour or session can be selected.

The registration deadline is July 12 as long as space is available. Tour space is limited so we urge you to register early. Liability waiver required.

10:00-5:00. Livestock Tour

Host: Ashley Fluke, UF/IFAS Osceola County Extension Agent

Boarding time: 9:45 am: Arrive by 9:45 to check in, sign the liability waiver and board the bus

Departure time 10:00 am: The bus will depart promptly at 10:00 am.

Departure Location: Osceola Heritage Park’s Exhibition Building: Buses will depart from the exhibition building located in the (OHP). Refer to the parking pass for location. Check in at the exhibition building lobby prior to departure.

Travel by bus to visit three local livestock farming operations. Please note this is a farm tour and participants may expect to walk over uneven paths up to one half mile. Though every reasonable precaution will be taken to prevent injury, participants must sign a liability waiver in order to visit the farms. Closed toe shoes are required and no high heels will be permitted. Dress comfortably for the heat. Bring sun protection of preference (ie: sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, sun protective clothing). Lunch will be provided by Nine’s Mine Ranch (grass feed beef burgers). Light refreshments (water, sodas and snacks) will also be provided throughout the day.

Lake Meadow Naturals

Lake Meadow Naturals is a local egg farm producing fabulous chicken and duck eggs from happy hens.  Our chicken eggs have a lovely brown shell that’s good for boiling as they retain their farm freshness.  We started with a flock of 100 baby chicks in 2004.  Our duck eggs are produced from happy Khaki Campbell and Peking ducks basking on Lake Meadow Farms, right here in Central Florida.  All have a delicious yolk that will take you back to a more traditional era.  Our poultry is a healthy, natural product that has never received any growth hormones or antibiotics.  All are fed an exclusively vegetarian diet with no animal by-products and are raised in stress-free conditions, allowing them to reach their full potential.  All of our poultry is minimally processed and USDA inspected for wholesomeness.  Our feed is locally ground and our egg cartons are produced right here in Zellwood from recycled Orlando newsprint.  We believe in sustaining a better environment for all of us and partner with various local farms for grass fed beef, Berkshire pork, lamb, and goat.  We supply to local hotels, resorts, and retail specialty markets in Central Florida.  Check us out at http://lakemeadownaturals.com.

Nine’s Mine Ranch Beef

The company was formed by Major League Baseball player Kyle Farmsworth and his brother-in-law Chad Pert. Kyle was raised in Georgia and was drafted right out of high school; instead he chose to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College where he received a full scholarship. He played for one year before being recruited by the Chicago Cubs. His desire to be a rancher and cattleman came from the years he worked on his grandfather’s cattle ranch in Missouri. His commitment and dedication have always been to produce top quality grass-fed-beef. In 2005 his focus was to supply local raised premium grass-fed-beef with no additives into the Florida and Georgia markets. The company has 3 locations: the operations center in St. Cloud Florida next to 180 acres for cattle grazing; sales office in Alpharetta, Georgia; and a distribution center at our 2,200 acres ranch in Nashville, Georgia.  Check us out at http://ninesmineranchbeef.com.

Linden Hollow Sheep Farm

Linden Hollow Sheep Farm is managed by Sherry Lee.  The farm has a focus on herding dogs and offers training and trials with both sheep and ducks.  Haired sheep have shown to perform best in Central Florida’s sub-tropical climate and have a better resistance to parasites than other types of sheep.  This farm has a productive grazing system and well managed pastures.  Check us out on Facebook.

Photos courtesy of:
Lake Meadow Natural, Nine’s Mine Ranch Beef and Linden Hollow Sheep Farm

1:00-5:00. Fruit and Vegetable Tour*

Host: Richard Tyson, UF/IFAS Orange County Extension Director

Boarding time: 12:45 pm: Arrive by 12:45 to sign the liability waiver and board the bus

Departure time 1:00 pm: The bus will depart promptly at 1:00 pm.

Departure Location: Osceola Heritage Park’s Exhibition Building: Buses will depart from the exhibition building located in the (OHP). Refer to the parking pass for location. Check in at the exhibition building lobby prior to departure.
* Please note there will be an additional $20 charge when registering for this tour for admission to the Land Pavilion at Disney’s’ EPCOT.

Travel by bus to visit two horticulture operations. Please note this is a farm tour and participants may expect to walk over uneven paths up to one half mile. Though every reasonable precaution will be taken to prevent injury, participants must sign a liability waiver in order to participate in the tour. Closed toe shoes are required and no high heels will be permitted. Dress comfortably for the heat. Bring sun protection of preference (ie: sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, sun protective clothing). Water, soda and light snack provided.

The Land Pavilion at Disney’s’ EPCOT – Hydroponics and Sustainable Agriculture

The Land Pavilion at Epcot is a wonderful place to introduce experienced and novice farmers to hydroponic gardening.  The Land Pavilion researches sustainable agricultural practices such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), crop rotation, inter-cropping, irrigation techniques and hydroponics.  Hydroponic farming is key to large-scale sustainable agriculture, as many rotations of crops can be produced with no disturbance of the soil.  Nutrient solutions can be recycled, and hydroponics, despite the fact that it is primarily driven by nutrient solutions in water, uses less water than traditional farming methods.  Hydroponics also allows production of food crops in areas that traditionally are too dry, cold, or otherwise inhospitable to traditional farming methods.  The Back Stage Land Tour takes you behind the scenes, explaining and visualizing the various successful methods and techniques used to produce fruit and vegetable crops hydroponically.

Agri-tourism and Local Foods at Long & Scott Farms

Long & Scott Farms, a 1,200 acre vegetable farm in central Florida, celebrated its 50th anniversary in February 2012.  Its longevity is due in part to the innovative choices made over the last 10 years to diversify operations from a strictly wholesale producer of Zellwood sweet corn, cabbage, and pickling cucumbers to also include a local foods and agri-tourism oriented marketing strategy.  The most successful of these alternative farm concepts is Scott’s Maze Adventures, an annual fall corn maze which had an attendance of nearly 30,000 annually in recent years. 

A seasonal retail farm market and café have also been established which is a hub for the consumer supported Produce Club providing 100 members weekly baskets of fresh harvested local produce.  Other additions to the farm operations have been a catch-and-release fishing pond, holiday and special events which include hay ride tours of the farm.  The farm also uses social media Facebook and Twitter, has a web-based presence www.longandscottfarms.com, as well as an on-line monthly newsletter which allows them to market to new audiences.         

Photos courtesy of:
Walt Disney World and Long & Scott Farms

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SATURDAY THEMES

Following each Saturday Concurrent Session description below, we have used the following abbreviations to help you select the sessions that may be of greatest interest to you.

 BF   = Beginning Farmers (for new and prospective farmers)

 B  = The Business of Farming (policy, finance, marketing)

 G  = Greenhouse and Hydroponics (just like it says)

 OS  = Organic and Sustainable Farming (emphasis on cultural practices)

 L  = Livestock Systems (selection, production, handling)

 SC  = Specialty Crops (fruits and veggies!)

 T  = Technology for Innovation (new and cool stuff here)

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Saturday, August 3, 2013 - Concurrent Sessions - 1

Click here to open new window to view the theme descriptions  BF   B   G   OS   L   SC   T  

Note the session time is either 11:00-12:00 or 11:00-12:30

11:00-12:00. Using Social Networking & the Internet to Market Your Product  B   L   SC   T  
As more and more business moves from storefront to the internet, maintaining contact with customers has evolved into ‘social media’ and other tools of the internet.  This session is designed to introduce these tools and how to get the most out of them. Topics will include managing your internet presence, understanding customers and developing quality material to help sell your product.
   Moderator: Michael Davis, UF/IFAS Baker County Extension Director
   Speaker: Sean McCoy, UF/IFAS Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center Regional Specialized Extension Agent

11:00-12:00. A Chef's Perspective of Market Opportunities  B   G   SC  
What does it take to win the hearts of chefs and expand your markets? Join us in this delightful session to learn which crops are “hot” and which crops are not, the crop characteristics that are important to chefs, and what you can do to develop healthy business relationships with restaurants and other outlets.
   Moderator: Anna Prizzia, UF/IFAS Florida Farm to School Program
   Speaker: Chef David Bearl, UF/IFAS Program for Resource Efficient Communities

11:00-12:00. Quantifying Grazing Resources in Cattle and Goat Operations   L  
What is grazing capacity? How much forage do cattle and goats need? What tools are available to estimate forage production in a farm? This session will make you realize you are a “grass farmer” first and producer second. The information provided will help you develop a production plan for your operation that matches the forage resources available to you.
   Moderator: Ken Johnson, UF/IFAS Desoto County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Mark Warren, UF/IFAS Flagler County Extension Agent

11:00-12:00. Update on New Poultry Rules  B   L  
The Direct Sale Farm Operation rule was created to provide regulatory and economic relief to small farm operations that produce and sell poultry and egg products in Florida. This session will provide an overview of the new requirements when direct marketing eggs and dressed poultry by representatives from FDACS and USDA.
   Moderator: Elena Toro, UF/IFAS Suwannee County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Lee Cornman, Division of Food Safety, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

11:00-12:30. Grafting Vegetable Transplants  G   OS   SC   T  
Vegetable production in Florida is an endless battle with weather, diseases, and insect pests.  Using grafted transplants is an innovative technique to give producers the upper hand.  Participants will learn the advantages and limitations of farming with grafted plants and will get a hands-on look at producing their own grafted transplants.   
   Moderator: Matt Lollar, UF/IFAS Seminole County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Monica Ozores-Hampton, UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research Education Center Immokalee
   Speaker: Xin Zhao, UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department
   Speaker: Nancy Roe, Farming Systems Research, Inc.
   Speaker: Erin Rosskopf, USDA ARS

11:00-12:30. Kick Start your Farm with Hydroponics and Protected Culture  BF   G   SC   T  
This session will teach prospective or beginning farmers about using several hydroponic production systems as a way to start farming, even with limited land, equipment, or experience. The attendees will learn about various structures used, including hoop houses, shade structures, greenhouses, or even outdoors. 
   Moderator: Libbie Johnson, UF/IFAS Escambia County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Wanda Laughlin, UF/IFAS Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center
   Speaker: Natalie Parkell, Vertical Horizon Farm, Hobe Sound

11:00-12:30. Seed Saving, Production and Availability  OS   SC   T  
Seed saving and production represent critical growing skills for farmers to develop on-farm sustainable resources and potential new markets, especially for organic seeds and regional cultivars.  This session will present an overview of crop seed biology and harvesting/storage under FL growing conditions with examples of specific FL crops
   Moderator: Robert Kluson, Sarasota County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Dan Cantliffe, St. Johns County Extension Director
   Speaker: Erica Renaud, Vitalis Organic Seeds
   Speaker: Tommy Simmons, Bellevue Gardens Organic Farm

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Saturday, August 3, 2013 - Concurrent Sessions - 2

Click here to open new window to view the theme descriptions  BF   B   G   OS   L   SC   T  

Note the session time is either 1:30-3:00 or 2:00-3:00

1:30-3:00. Creative Resourcing and Financing  BF   B  
Securing funding for a small farm operation can be frustrating. In this enlightening session you will hear from Farm Credit and Farm Service Agency experts who will provide you with up-to-date information on current loan options and opportunities. You will also hear from SARE experts about USDA-funded grants opportunities for established farmers who are interested in conducting sustainable agriculture research, with an education/outreach outcome to their projects. This session will be highlighted by a young farming couple who will share their journey through the financing maze.
   Moderator: Michael Davis, UF/IFAS Baker County Extension Director
   Speaker: Erin Vermillion, Volusia County USDA Farm Service Agency
   Speaker: Marcus Boone, Farm Credit Northwest Florida
   Speaker: Candace Pollock, Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
   Speaker: Jonathan and Amy Morris, Seminole County Farm

1:30-3:00. Trends in Hydroponic Specialty Crops  B   G   SC  
Testimonials from a Johnny’s Seeds sales rep about new specialty crop varieties conducive to hydroponic culture, a grower in Hastings who is the largest producer of hydroponic greenhouse datil pepper in the country, and a hydroponic greenhouse grower in Odessa who produces a vast array of unique specialty micro-crops.
   Moderator: Jonael Bosques, UF/IFAS Marion County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Chris Barnes, Barnes Farms, Hastings, Florida
   Speaker: Marvin Wilhite Jr., Cahaba Clubs Herbal Outpost, Odessa, Florida
   Speaker: Rod Heyerdahl, Johnny’s Seeds Company, Southeast Territory Sales Representative 

1:30-3:00. Factors that Affect the Profitability of a Meat Goat Operation  B   L  
This session will discuss the real cost of low reproductive efficiency, poor health programs and breed selection in goat operations. Speakers will provide overview of management practices that improve and increase the profitability of a meat goat operation.
   Moderator:  Elena Toro, UF/IFAS Suwannee County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Ray Mobley, Professor, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
   Speaker: Angela Jakes, Extension Animal Science Specialist, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

1:30-3:00. Matching Nutritional Needs of Cattle to Your Forage Inventory B   L  
Meeting the nutrient requirements is a key component of meeting cow herd production and profitability goals for cattle finished on grass. This session will discuss strategies to match forage resources to cattle finished in grass.
   Moderator: Ken Johnson, UF/IFAS Desoto County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Mark Warren, UF/IFAS Flagler County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Kevin Campbell, Regional Livestock Extension Agent, Clemson University

2:00-3:00. Blackberry Production  BF   SC  
Blackberry production in Florida has its risks and limitations, but has the potential become a highly lucrative enterprise through market window exploitation.  Participants will be presented with research-based data and on-farm knowledge of variety selection, training methods, and production requirements. 
   Moderator: Cami Esmel McAvoy, UF/IFAS Sumter County Extension
   Speaker: Peter Andersen, UF/IFAS North Florida Research Education Center, Quincy 
   Speaker: Tavis Douglas, Island Grove/Nursery

2:00-3:00. Successful Transplant Production  BF   G  
The use of transplants has many advantages to the Florida farmer.  Growers can target early season markets and produce a second and third crop in one season with transplants.  The advantages and disadvantages, basic production practices, and crops best suited for transplanting will be discussed in the session.
   Moderator: Blake Thaxton, UF/IFAS Santa Rosa County Extension Agent 
   Speaker: Bielinksi Santos, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research Education Center
   Speaker: Elizabeth Golden, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research Education Center 
   Speaker: Carlos Mendez Urbaez, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research Education Center 
   Speaker: Emmanuel Torres Quezada, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research Education Center 

2:00-3:00. Farmscaping for Beneficial Insects Part I  BF   OS   SC  
Farmscaping is a whole-farm, ecological approach that develops on-farm resources for pest management.  This introduction to farmscaping concepts gives an overview of the design techniques and biodiversity of beneficial insects for FL small farms and landscapes.
   Moderator: Aparna Gazula, Alachua County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Ayanava Majumdar, Alabama Cooperative Extension System

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Saturday, August 3, 2013 - Concurrent Sessions - 3

Click here to open new window to view the theme descriptions  BF   B   G   OS   L   SC   T  

4:30-5:30. Are You Working On or In Your Business?   B  
You started your farm business because you are good at growing crops, or raising animals! This is what you are happiest at; this is why you went into business!  However as your business begins to grow you quickly realize you need to become more efficient.  In this enlightening session a past business owner will provide you with ideas of how you can organize yourself so you can begin to work on your on your business not in it.
   Moderator: Michael Davis, UF/IFAS Baker County Extension Director
   Speaker: Ed Skvarch, UF/IFAS St. Lucie County Extension Agent

4:30-5:30. Powering Your Greenhouse with Renewable Energy  B   G   SC   T  
Explore renewable energy options for your greenhouse and beyond in this session led by NCAT. Learn the options for portable power for motors and lighting as well as alternative heating and cooling technologies including solar, compost, geothermal, etc. Start-up and maintenance costs will also be reviewed.
   Moderator: Bielinksi Santos, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research Extension Center
   Speaker: Dave Ryan, Energy Engineer, National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), Montana

4:30-5:30. Selecting Genetics for Forage-Based Systems  L  
Identifying the correct breeding stock is important for grass finished programs. Speakers will discuss the role of genetics and desired traits in grass finished cattle in Florida.
   Moderator: Elena Toro, UF/IFAS Suwannee County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Kevin Campbell, Regional Livestock Extension Agent, Clemson University
   Speaker: Ashley Fluke, UF/IFAS Osceola County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Ricky Booth, Brahman Association

4:30-5:30. Agribusiness Management: Budgeting Resources for Livestock Producers  B   L  
In this session we will walk through the application of enterprise budgeting to various livestock operations. We will discuss the inputs and outputs of the budgeting process and how you can gain substantial marketing and production power through the process.  We will then work through some examples and end with the dissemination of some take home resources for your farm.
   Moderator: Joe Walter, UF/IFAS Brevard County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Ken Johnson, UF/IFAS Desoto County Extension Agent

4:30-5:30. Tropical Root Crop Production  BF   SC  
Florida has long been a melting pot of Latin, Caribbean, and African cultures and the typical American consumer’s palate has diversified exponentially over the last ten years.  Participants will learn about the production methods and marketing strategies for cassava, turmeric, and taro along with other tropical root crops. 
   Moderator/Speaker: Mary Lamberts, UF/IFAS Miami-Dade Extension Agent 
   Speaker: Sylvia Gordon, Landscape by Sylvia Gordon

4:30-5:30. Education and Funding Resource Toolbox for Beginning Farmers  BF   B  
UF/IFAS Extension, NRCS, and FSA are three valuable resources to the beginning farmer and rancher.  This session will feature representatives from each to describe the educational, production, financing, and diagnostic resources available in the Florida small farmers and ranchers “Toolbox”.
   Moderator/Speaker: Megan Brew, UF/IFAS Lake County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Chuck O’Rourke, Natural Resource Conservation Service
   Speaker: Ken Windsor, USDA Farm Service Agency, Osceola County Executive Director
   Speaker: Erin Vermillion, Volusia County USDA Farm Service Agency

4:30-5:30. Farmscaping for Beneficial Insects Part II  OS   SC  
This session continues the presentation of farmscaping as a whole-farm, ecological approach that develops on-farm resources for pest management.  It describes examples of the implementation of farmscaping design techniques in order to develop beneficial insects on small farms and landscapes for specific FL insect pests and crops
   Moderator: Carolyn Saft, Suwannee County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Ayanava Majumdar, Alabama Cooperative Extension System

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Sunday, August 4, 2012 - Workshops

9:00-12:00. Irrigation Management
Proper irrigation management involves a systems approach, from the sources of water to plant water requirements to irrigation system characteristics. This session will describe how to properly design, maintain and operate irrigation systems (e.g., drip irrigation) for a small farm and multiple cropping.
   Moderator: Gene McAvoy, Hendry County Extension Director
   Speaker: Sanjay Shukla, Southwest Florida Research Education Center
   Speaker: James Knowles, Southwest Florida Research Education Center
   Speaker: Kelly Morgan, Southwest Florida Research Education Center
   Speaker: Monica Ozores-Hampton, Southwest Florida Research Education Center

9:00-12:00. Beekeeping
In this class the farmer will be introduced to the many aspects of beekeeping as it pertains to farm operations. They will hear from experts in commercial beekeeping, a state inspector, and an extension agent regarding beekeeping and how it can enhance their farm operation.
   Moderator/Speaker: Mark Dykes, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
   Speaker: Jeanette Klopchin, UF Honey Bee Lab
   Speaker: Mario Jakob, D&J Apiary

9:00-12:00. Chute Side Manners in Cattle Farms and Other Important Practices
Chute Side Manners is the concept of working cattle in a way that is less stressful for you and your livestock. Good chute-side stewardship not only impacts beef quality and the food we produce, it saves money. Topics will include: chute-side work, cattle handling, safety and cattle selection. This session will build on the topics presented Saturday.
   Moderator: Ken Johnson, UF/IFAS Desoto County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Mark Warren, UF/IFAS Flagler County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Ashley Fluke, UF/IFAS Osceola County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Joe Walter, UF/IFAS Brevard County Extension Agent

9:00-12:00. Pasture Raised Pork A-Z
Heritage pigs are the top choice for pork among today’s best chefs. These breeds are enjoying a renaissance of interest across the country. Learn what it takes to raise pigs in pastures. The speaker for this session serves on the Board of Directors for the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
   Moderator: Elena Toro, UF/IFAS Suwannee County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Tim Safranski, University of Missouri, Swine State Swine Breeding Specialist

9:00-12:00. Vegetable Diagnostics 101
Have you invested time, money, and energy into vegetables only to lose them to insects and diseases?  This special hands on session will help you know to identify and address common vegetable insect pests and diseases.  Hands on diagnostic session led by Amanda Hodges, Doctor of Plant Medicine. Students will help staff hands on diagnostic stations using live samples and microscopes.  Live specimens and experts will help you apply what you learn directly on the farm. 
   Moderator: Norm Leppla, UF Entomology and Nematology
   Moderator: Amanda Hodges, Assistant Extension Scientist, Entomology and Nematology,
    University of Florida, Gainesville
   Speaker: Mary Beth Henry, UF/IFAS Polk County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Hugh Smith, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center
   Speaker: Gary Vallad, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center

9:00-12:00. Aquaponics
The Seminar will provide information and training resources to those seeking knowledge on the polyculture of freshwater fish in a recirculating aquaponics system. Attendees will learn about nutrient manipulation in relationship to plant variety, water quality and temperature parameters that need to be assessed, and gain clear insights into the importance of each parameter as it relates to the aquaponics system.
   Moderator: Roy Beckford, UF/IFAS Lee County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Richard Tyson, UF/IFAS Orange County Extension Director
   Speaker: Mr. Jorge Pang, Director of Aquaponics - iSeedUSA

9:00-12:00. Permaculture
Permaculture is a sustainable design science with application from small farm to foodshed levels. Permaculture integrates the laws of nature to offer holistic solutions to embrace all aspects of human systems – social, environmental and economic.  This introduction to Permaculture is conducted by leading practitioners and educators in Florida.
Moderator: Robert Kluson, Sarasota County Extension Agent
   Speaker: Koreen Brennan, Grow Permaculture Company
   Speaker: Mario Yanez, Earth Learning
   Speaker: Will Sheftall, Leon County Extension Agent

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