Half Million Savings: Alabama, Florida Farmers Learn Chemical Control
July 11, 2013
Drive around the back roads near Atmore or Walnut Hill at this time of year, and you will see big fields planted in cotton and peanuts. Keep driving and odds are pretty good that you may drive between Florida and Alabama without ever realizing that you have crossed the state line.
Farmers in this area often work fields in both states. Row-crop production is big business in this area. Last year, more than 28,000 acres of cotton were grown in the two neighboring counties. Peanuts were planted in more than 30,000 acres in that same time period.
For cotton and peanut producers to run profitable operations, they have to manage closely all of their production inputs from seed to fuel.
Kim Wilkins, a row crops regional agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, says agri-chemicals are the most expensive input farmers must buy.
“They use as little as they can to be effective because farmers just don’t have the money to waste,” says Wilkins.
Wilkins and her Florida Extension counterpart, Libbie Johnson, were looking for ways to help their farmers stay profitable when they came up with the idea of holding three agricultural sprayer workshops.
Johnson says it just made good sense to work together since many of the farmers have fields on both sides of the state lines. Wilkins agrees.
“In this area, we have farmers who work a lot of acres,” says Wilkins. “There is no way for them to be profitable in these crops without a lot of acreage. “
Johnson says the pair took an idea that was being used successfully in south Florida and modified it to work with their growers.
“We knew that if we could get the growers to the meetings and help them calibrate their sprayers that we could help them reduce input costs,” says Johnson.
Sprayer calibration is a critical element for producers, says Wilkins.
“Apply too much, you risk crop injury and potential environmental impacts, and you have increased costs because of wasted product. Apply too little, you risk poor pest control, increased chemical costs because of product reapplications and reduced income from yield loss.”
Wilkins and Johnson enlisted the assistance of Smith Tractor Company and Hypro Sprayer Company. The sprayer workshops reached 60 farmers and included classroom presentations followed by sprayer tip evaluation demonstrations. During these demonstrations representatives from Alabama Extension, Florida Extension, and the companies would calibrate sprayers brought on site by farmers.
Wilkins says most of these sprayers have more than 60 tips, and each tip was evaluated using state-of-the-art calibration equipment.
“We then took the information from calibration testing and put it in a spreadsheet designed by Florida Extension. After doing some calculations, the spreadsheet advises whether producers should change their sprayer tips.”
Wilkins says a five percent reduction in total spray volume is a conservative assessment as a result of calibration changes made at the workshop.
Extension economists estimated that each of the 60 producers was farming an average of 1,000 acres so workshop participants as a group were working about 60,000 acres. According to the Gulf Coast Farm Analysis Association, the average cost of chemicals for peanuts and cotton is about $171. This means that workshop participants as a group saved more than $500,000 in input costs.
Johnson says producers appreciated how the workshops were set up.
“They appreciated that the meetings were held well in advance of planting times and that the meetings offered more than classroom instruction,” she says. “Being hands-on with farmers is still an important part of the county agent’s job. We are just doing hands-on work in ways that make the most of the technology available to us.”
Wilkins and Johnson add another benefit to partnering with industry is reaching new clients. Wilkins says that the workshops highlighted the quality of Extension programs to producers who have not been to many Extension programs.
Pictured top: A farm sprayer. Pictured inset: (L-R) Kim Wilkins, Billy Danielson, Libbie Johnson and Eddie Booker. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jail Time For Man That Stole Guns From Dead Uncle, Beat Man Over Spilled Beer
July 11, 2013
A Cantonment man will spend the next several months in the Escambia County Jail for stealing guns from his uncle’s house hours after he had a heart attack and beating another man in the face with a baseball bat over a spilled beer.
Robert Michael Lanquist, Jr., 22, was charged with four felony counts of grand theft of a firearm last September for stealing firearms from his uncle’s gun safe while Lanquist’s aunt was at the hospital as his uncle passed away. When Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies and an ATF agent contacted Lanquist at his residence, he granted them permission to search the house. They reported finding the weapons hidden in a crawlspace under the home. Lanquist, according to a Sheriff’s Office report, served as pallbearer shortly after the theft.
Judge Michael Allen found Lanquist guilty of one count of felony theft of a firearm and sentenced him to nine months in the county jail.
Just days after the firearm theft, Lanquis was charged with felony aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability. The victim told deputies he and Lanquist became involved in an argument at a female’s house on Forest Avenue after a beer was spilled on Lanquist. The victim said Lanquist walked away and returned with a baseball bat, striking the victim in the head and face.
Lanquist admitted to deputies that he did become involved in an altercation with the victim after he poured a beer on him and began to belittle his mother. He admitted to punching the victim in the face but denied having a weapon, deputies said.
He was convicted of the felony battery charge by Judge Allen and sentenced to nine months in the county jail, concurrent with the weapons sentence.
Lanquist filed a motion to modify his sentence, but Allen denied that motion this week.
Escambia Schools Continue Four-Day Summer Work Week
July 11, 2013
Escambia County schools are continuing a four-day work week for the summer until the end of this month.
Schools are currently open Monday to Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Monday, July 29, schools will return to a regular five-day work week.
Softball Tourney To Benefit Northview Student Fighting Cancer
July 11, 2013
A benefit coed softball tournament will be held next month for Dennis Trevor Mathis, a 16-year old Northview High School junior diagnosed with cancer in May.
The tournament will be held Saturday, August 10 at Showalter Park in Century. Entry fee is $150 per team. For more information, call or text Robin Cofield at (850) 336-1490.
To follow Mathis’ progress, visit the Facebook page “Fight to Win DTM“.
Photos: Blue Angels Back In The Skies Over Pensacola
July 11, 2013
The Blue Angels were back in the skies over Pensacola on Wednesday. While the Blue Angels’ 2013 air show season may have been canceled due to budget constraints, the pilots fly proficiency flights to maintain their qualifications in the F/A-18 Hornets.
Scroll down for more photos with captions.
Submitted photos by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Terrence Siren for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Above: The Blue Angels take off from Naval Air Station Pensacola Wednesday for proficiency flights to maintain their qualifications in the F/A-18.
Above: Blue Angels Commanding Officer and Flight Leader Cmdr. Tom Frosch taxis his F/A-18 Hornet down the runway prior to take-off.
The Blue Angels, F/A-18 Hornets go “smoke on” prior to launching a pilot proficiency flight from Naval Air Station Pensacola on Wednesday.
Above: Blue Angels Opposing Solo pilot Lt. Mark Tedrow waves to his crew chiefs prior to the launch.
Above: Crew chief Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class David Schooley of Easton, Pa., runs clear of the Number One jet.
Above: Blue Angels Maintenance and Support Team members run clear of the runway as part of a practice ground performance prior to the launch of a pilot proficiency flight.
Council On Aging Seeks Volunteers
July 11, 2013
Council on Aging of West Florida will host an information session for individuals 18 or older who are interested in volunteering their time, experience and skills to help serve the diverse, growing senior population. The session will be held Thursday, July 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Council’s main office, 875 Royce Street in Pensacola. The session is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
The information session includes an overview of the Council’s mission, what the organization does in the community and how volunteers can make a difference in the lives of seniors. Volunteer opportunities to be presented include delivering Meals on Wheels, marketing and community outreach, adult day health care activities, transportation, light home repairs, yard work and office work. Flexible schedules are available for one time, periodic or weekly volunteer assignments for individuals and/or groups. For more information or to register, please contact Betty McLeroy at (850) 266-2518 or bmcleroy@coawfla.org.
Blue Wahoos Snap Losing Skid, Beat Montgomery 5-3
July 11, 2013
Ryan LaMarre broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the ninth inning with a game-winning two-run home run giving the Blue Wahoos all they needed to down the Montgomery Biscuits 5-3 in the series opener at Riverwalk Stadium Wednesday night. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Blue Wahoos.
After the two teams waited out a rain delay of nearly an hour, Pensacola struck first with a run in the top of the second when LaMarre brought home Tucker Barnhart from third with a sacrifice fly to right field. The Biscuits quickly responded using a hit and three walks, including one with the bases loaded, to tie the game in the bottom of the inning.
The Biscuits moved in front with back to back home runs from Todd Glaesmann and Kyeong Kang in the bottom of the third. Blue Wahoo starter Shaun Ellis labored through three innings and was charged with all three Biscuits runs. He also walked a season-high four batters in the no decision.
Pensacola got back on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the fourth. Barnhart started the rally with a one-out solo home run. Travis Mattair singled behind him and scored on a two-out double from LaMarre. The left fielder mishandled the ball allowing Mattair to scamper home with the game-tying run.
The two teams traded zeros until the ninth. With Mattair at first and two outs, LaMarre launched a 3-1 pitch over the left field wall to give the Blue Wahoos a 5-3 advantage. Trevor Bell (S, 5) came in and nailed down the save, his fifth in as many tries. Bell combined with three other relievers to work six scoreless innings. Chris Manno worked three shutout and Lee Hyde (W, 3-4) pitched 1.1 scoreless. Hyde earned the win, his third of the season. Juan Sandoval (L, 2-2) took the loss for the Biscuits after allowing the ninth inning home run.
Five players had multi-hit games for the Blue Wahoos. Corey Wimberly (2-for-4), Barnhart (2-for-4), Brodie Greene (2-for-4), LaMarre (2-for-3) and Mattair (3-for-4) all had at least two hits, but LaMarre added three RBI.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series with the Biscuits on Thursday night. RHP Tim Crabbe (3-7, 3.63) gets the nod for Pensacola against Biscuits LHP Enny Romero. First pitch is slated for 7:05 from Riverwalk Stadium.
story by Kevin Burke
AG Boss Putnam Raking In Campaign Cash
July 11, 2013
Still more than a year from the 2014 elections, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam gave a glimpse Wednesday of the strength of his re-election campaign.
Putnam, a Republican, reported collecting $591,011 in contributions between April 1 and June 30, hundreds of thousands of dollars more than other statewide candidates. As another point of comparison, Putnam’s cash haul totaled more than 60 percent of the $966,788 raised by the Florida Democratic Party during the three-month period.
Putnam also received nearly $83,000 in in-kind contributions, with about $77,000 coming through staffing and other support from the Republican Party of Florida. Putnam opened a campaign account for the race in mid-April. Sunrise Democrat Thad Hamilton also has opened an account for the race and had raised $760 through June 30.
“Big thanks to everyone who helped kick off my reelection (with) such momentum!” Putnam said in a message on Twitter. “Nearly 2000 donors have invested in our vision for Florida!
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Tropical Storm Chantal Fades Away
July 11, 2013
The National Hurricane Center has issued its last advisory on Chantal. It’s no longer a tropical storm, just a remnant low. The NHS will be track on the low just to make sure it does not regenerate. If it does, it will keep the same name.
The last advisory on Tropical Storm Chantal is in the graphic above, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Names Former DEP Boss As Interim Administrator
July 10, 2013
Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward announced today that he has appointed former state agency director Colleen M. Castille as interim city administrator, effective Monday, July 15.
The announcement came a few days after Hayward terminated Bill Reynolds as administrator following a State Attorney’s Office investigation into public records law violations Read more…
“Colleen is exceedingly qualified and I can’t thank her enough for coming aboard on such short notice,” said Hayward. “I know she will hit the ground running and do her best to make this transition as smooth as possible until we have a new permanent administrator in place.”
Ms. Castille is a former secretary of both the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA), serving under Governor Jeb Bush. As DEP Secretary, Castille managed 4,700 employees and administered a $2.6 billion annual budget. In her prior position as DCA Secretary, she advised the Governor on all on all local and state policy and budget matters regarding growth management, housing and emergency management. Since leaving the DEP in 2007, Castille has worked in the private sector as a consultant to businesses and government.
Prior to her appointment as DCA Secretary, Castille held several positions within the Florida executive branch, including chief cabinet aide to both Education Commissioner Frank Brogan and Governor Jeb Bush, and senior cabinet aide to Insurance Commissioner and Treasurer Tom Gallagher.
Castille holds a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from Florida State University. She serves on the board of directors for the Leroy Collins Institute at Florida State University as well as the Space Coast Energy Consortium.