Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam recently announced the winners of the 2018 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award.
The winners of the 2018 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award were announced recently by Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam, according to a press release on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. According to the release, the award has been given by the Commissioner of Agriculture since 1994. See details from the release on the winners below.
Details on the Winners of the 2018 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award
According to the press release, the winners of the Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award are being recognized “for the environmentally innovative farming techniques” they utilize in farming or ranching. Summaries of the winners from the release are:
Jim Strickland of Blackbeards’ Ranch in Manatee County: “Blackbeards’ Ranchis a 4,530-acre commercial cow-calf operation in Manatee County. Managing partner Jim Strickland is an acclaimed steward of the land, implementing practices that sustain wildlife, support land restoration, combat invasive plants and renew water quality. Blackbeards’ Ranch serves as a site for many conservation studies, including a partnership with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to study the Florida panther.”
Chuck Allison of Wild Goose Farms in Umatilla: “Wild Goose Farms, owned and operated by Chuck Allison, is a family-run, 905-acre farm. The family operation includes citrus, blueberries, cattle and hay. To maximize irrigation and fertilizer efficiency, reduce leaching and deep percolation, Allison implemented a multifaceted approach to water conservation and nutrient management, including soil moisture sensors, drip irrigation and a fertilizer injection system. In their blueberry production, this technology reduced water usage by 20 percent and increased the yield by 30 percent.”
James Shinn of Shinn Groves/ Tree O’Groves in Lake Alfred: “Shinn Groves/ Tree O’Groves, Inc.in Lake Alfred has been family owned and operated for 37 years, and is currently headed by James Shinn. The innovative family operation includes citrus, cattle and peach orchards. Shinn was an early adopter of best management practices, and he helped shape certain practices that have now been formally integrated into the statewide best management practices for citrus.”
See the full press release for the entire information on the Fresh from Florida website.
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.