Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services BOB CRAWFORD, Commissioner

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1 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services BOB CRAWFORD, Commissioner

2 Dear Friend in Agriculture: It is my great pleasure to present the winners of the 1998 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award. This award highlights the environmentally innovative agricultural practices implemented by Florida growers and ranchers. The original environmentalists _ the true stewards of our land _ have always been our growers and ranchers who depend on the land to produce our food. The modern farmer produces quality food in unsurpassed quantities to meet the demands of our nation and the world. And they do this on less land than ever before. Today s farmer is constantly pioneering ways to ensure a continuing supply of food without degrading the land and water that produced it. This program provides a brief overview of this year s winners. The selection was a difficult task, made by an independent committee that included representatives from major agricultural groups, environmental groups and government agencies. There were many excellent applications, which illustrates the extent of environmental awareness in the agricultural community Sincerely, BOB CRAWFORD Commissioner of Agriculture

3 For more than 50 years Berryman T. Buster Longino has worked the Longino Ranch. His hands-on approach gives him a unique perspective on the needs of his land, allowing him to be innovative in his land management techniques, and letting him see firsthand which practices are best for his ranch and the environment. Practicing an active conservation program since the 1950s, Buster continues to work tirelessly to enhance and improve soil, water, wildlife, and native habitats. His main goal: preserving this environmentally sensitive land while maintaining a viable cattle, citrus and timber operation. Spreading across 8,000 acres in Southwest Florida, the Longino property was originally purchased by Buster s father and grand- 1

4 father in Starting out as a turpentine business, the family-run operation has diversified over the years. It was in the early days of his family s ownership that Buster began to develop his appreciation for the old-growth forests that covered nearly half of the property. After serving in World War II, Buster went to the University of Florida to study forestry. As the turpentine industry in Florida gave way to timber harvesting, Buster s forestry background allowed the family to improve the quality of timber being raised as a renewable crop. Recognizing the need to maintain a sustainable forest, Buster incorporated best management practices, including controlled burns, seed-trees, and selective cutting. 2

5 Buster also recognized the need to diversify. With just a few head of cattle and some advice from nearby ranchers, Buster began the Longino Ranch. Relying on the fertilization and grazing techniques developed by agencies like the Soil Conservation Service and the University of Florida s Range Cattle Station, Buster created a cost-effective environment in which to raise cattle. Frequent rotation between improved and native pastures, as well as limiting the use of fertilizers, enhanced the surrounding habitat while providing high-quality native forage. Buster has cross-bred his cattle with a variety of European, African and Asian breeds, to find the right combination for his Southwest Florida ranch. To prepare the property for citrus groves, the Longino Ranch hired engineers to develop a state-of-the-art irri- 3

6 gation and drainage system. Miles of pipe were laid below ground to deliver water to the trees. To maximize the system s efficiency, small sprinklers or microjets placed below each tree apply water directly to the roots. This method of irrigation nearly eliminates water loss due to evaporation and requires a fraction of the water formerly used in citrus groves. Although this system typifies Buster s commitment to soil and water conservation, an even more impressive accomplishment came from addressing the groves drainage requirements. During the late 1950s, the general recommendation from the Soil Conservation Service was to drain wetlands. This increased the amount of usable farmland in South Florida. When Buster decided to add a citrus grove in the early 1990s, the Longino 4

7 Ranch was required to dig an adjacent retention pond. Faced with an extensive excavation project, Buster turned to a solution more in harmony with nature: he would reestablish the nearby wetlands that had been drained 40 years earlier. The soil and water management practices used by Buster have increased the wildlife population, not only around the retention pond, but on the entire ranch. Deer, long missing from the area, now have a sizeable population on the ranch. Turkey and wild hogs are also abundant. Sandhill cranes are also frequently found on the property. Buster has been active in community service, includ- 5

8 ing work with the Soil and Water Conservation District, the Manasota Basin Board, Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board, and the Cattlemen s Association. He has also served as a Sarasota County commissioner, as well as a member of the Sarasota County Extension Service Advisory Committee for more than 12 years. As a spokesperson for environmentally sound agriculture, Buster often provides educational tours of the ranch to local schools, churches, and civic organizations. Buster s success is based on his willingness to do what is best in the long run. Diversification of the Longino Ranch has allowed Buster to sustain a viable agricultural operation despite the normal highs and lows of the beef, citrus and timber industries. It is his nature to evaluate and implement new ideas and always look toward the future. 6

9 The roots of V&W Farms, Inc., are firmly entrenched in South Florida. The business began as the Williams family dairy in the Miami area during the 1920s. As Miami expanded, the dairy relocated to Pompano-Delray Beach. In 1965, V&W Farms moved to its present location west of Avon Park in Hardee County. The V&W dairy has a well-deserved reputation for producing a quality product for Florida consumers, producing between 7,000 and 11,000 gallons of milk a day. Knowing that the cows are the most important part of the dairy operation, careful, hands-on attention is given to each of the 1,800 cows in the herd. Proper nutrition and individual care ensure a 7

10 healthy cow, which in turn means a high-volume milk supply. Moreover, it s the solid commitment to the environment that makes V&W Farms a credit to Florida s agribusiness community. Improvements in conservation methods begun by owner Charles Williams have been continued by his son-in-law, Joe Wright. One of the first areas targeted for improvement by the dairy was its use of water. The V&W dairy designed a reclamation system that drastically cut down on the use of fresh water. Striving to create an environmentally sound waste management system, the dairy has implemented a procedure that utilizes an efficient and beneficial cycle. Water used for wash-down purposes drains from the feed barns toward a central collection point. A canal then carries the water to a lagoon, where the breakdown of waste occurs. Next, the waste wa- 8

11 ter is gravity-fed through an underground 24-inch pipe to the second stage of the lagoon, where anaerobic activity further breaks down the waste. The water then is pumped out for use in the irrigation systems and for flushing the feed barns. The cows are fed in barns featuring free-standing stalls before being moved to the milking parlor. A 10,000-gallon tank filled with recycled waste water is used to flush out the barns after the herd has been fed. A torrent of water sweeps waste and debris from the sloped feed barn floor to the concrete canal. By re- 9

12 using this waste water, the dairy is able to continually wash down the feed barns without any additional cost or labor. A center-pivot irrigation system is used to distribute the waste water over crops of corn, sorghum and hay fields, where remaining nutrients are absorbed. V&W now has about 475 acres for double-cropping corn and sorghum, and 150 acres for hay fields. The dairy is planting new, improved grasses developed by the Extension Service, the Soil Conservation Service, and the University of Florida. These grasses are quick-growing and provide an excellent source of hay. 10

13 The corn is chopped into silage and mixed with hay, sorghum, and other ingredients to yield a nutritious feed. This mixture is fed back to the herd and the cycle begins anew. Water isn t the only thing recycled at V&W Farms. The dairy cows do their part to help out the environment, consuming bakery waste products, such as wet brewers grain, corn, cottonseed and soybean byproducts. The cows are able to extract additional nutrients out of these waste materials and metabolize it in the manufacturing of milk. V&W Farms conservation efforts are not limited to water reclamation. The dairy uses a sys- 11

14 tem of crop rotation and leaving fields fallow to prevent soil erosion. The principle rotation is corn, sorghum, and then possibly winter crops, such as oats and rye. Rotation not only prevents the soil from eroding, it also helps maintain the presence of nutrients vital to future crops. Forming the farm s southern boundary is a 600- acre tract of oaks, pines, and palmettos. V&W Farms plans to protect and preserve this old Florida native land by leaving it in its natural state. 12

15 Jay B. Starkey Jr. Anclote River Ranch Odessa, Florida Edward Jack Campbell South Dade Soil and Water Conservation District Homestead, Florida Citrus World, Inc. Lake Wales, Florida Ekkwill Waterlife Resources Gibsonton, Florida Clive Morris Schroeder Manatee Ranch Bradenton, Florida Burt McKee United AgriProducts, Inc. Tampa, Florida William Berman Davie Dairy, Inc. Okeechobee, Florida Mark Nelson O.F. Nelson and Sons Nursery Apopka, Florida Calvin Houghland Bright Hour Ranch Arcadia, Florida Paul Genho Deseret Cattle and Citrus Deseret Ranches of Florida St. Cloud, Florida C.A. Fulford and Sons Fulford Farms, Inc. Monticello, Florida James Wohl Rafter T Cattle Company Avon Park, Florida Ferdinand S. Duda A. Duda and Sons, Inc. Oviedo, Florida Fred C. Babcock Babcock Florida Company Punta Gorda, Florida Edwin S. Gustafson Sr. Gustafson s Dairy Farm Green Cove Springs, Florida Jon Rackley Jon s Nursery, Inc. Eustis, Florida Alto Bud Adams Adams Ranch, Inc. Fort Pierce, Florida

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