• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Submit News
  • Contact Us

Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

  • Featured
  • Leaders
  • Government
  • Industry
  • Education
  • Opinion
You are here: Home / Government / Commissioner Adam Putnam Announces Winners of 2018 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award

Commissioner Adam Putnam Announces Winners of 2018 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award

Posted on September 4, 2018

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced the recipients of the Commissioner’s Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award, which recognizes the environmentally innovative farming techniques of Florida’s farmers and ranchers. This year’s recipients are: Jim Strickland of Blackbeards’ Ranch in Manatee County, Chuck Allison of Wild Goose Farms in Umatilla, and James Shinn of Shinn Groves/ Tree O’Groves in Lake Alfred.

Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture has presented this award annually since 1994 to Florida’s growers and ranchers who are committed to preserving Florida’s resources while providing agricultural products.

Blackbeards’ Ranch is 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. Restored wetlands store clean water that is provided to the city of North Port, Myakka River and Charlotte Harbor estuary as necessary. Additionally, to help ease the impact of invasive plants, Strickland was one of the first landowners to participate in a mole cricket control project. Strickland has worked to preserve the ranch’s working agricultural lands and their immense environmental benefits by participating in the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, Florida Forever and the National Resource Conservation Service’s easement program.

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. Due to the success with their blueberries, Allison recently replicated this technology in their citrus production. Wild Goose Farms emphasizes environmental stewardship through an outreach program of farm tours, workshops, local school programs and student visits.

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. Shinn implements composting, slow-release fertilizers and rotational cattle grazing to help protect Florida’s natural resources and reduce water run-off. Border areas surround the groves as a buffer to preserve habitats and provide a wildlife corridor. Shinn also samples new varieties of citrus and peaches for improved resiliency, and he shares this knowledge with the community and nearby growers.

The winners will be recognized on Oct. 26, 2018, during the Commissioner’s Ag-Environmental Leadership Breakfast at the Florida Farm Bureau’s Annual Convention.

For more information on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.

Share this article! Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Filed Under: Government Tagged With: Agricultural Environmental Leadership Award, Commissioner Adam Putnam

Primary Sidebar

    Submit News    

Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Florida Agricultural Losses Estimated at Over $447 Million Following Hurricane Idalia

Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson today announced the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer … [Read More...] about Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Florida Agricultural Losses Estimated at Over $447 Million Following Hurricane Idalia

Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Preliminary Damage Assessment for Timber Following Hurricane Idalia

Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson today announced the release of the Florida Department of … [Read More...] about Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Preliminary Damage Assessment for Timber Following Hurricane Idalia

Governor Ron DeSantis Highlights Hurricane Idalia Recovery Resources

Governor Ron DeSantis today highlighted ongoing recovery resources … [Read More...] about Governor Ron DeSantis Highlights Hurricane Idalia Recovery Resources

Keep in Touch

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Newsletter signup

Stay in the loop! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive a brief recap of the week's most popular stories.

Footer

News

  • Featured
  • Leaders
  • Government
  • Industry
  • Education
  • Opinion

About Us 

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Submit News
  • Contact Us

Keep in Touch

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021
Terms & Conditions

© Copyright 2023 Capital Soup · All Rights Reserved ·