2017 1Q and 2Q,Sees Decline in Hillsborough/Polk Environmental Horticulture Production Output

I just ran the numbers for the estimated output of the environmental horticulture industry value for the first and second quarter of 2017 and was surprised to find a decline in value for both Hillsborough and Polk Counties.  With all the construction that is being done around the area, I was sure that the numbers would have increased.  What is a bit surprising, is that in the 2016 estimate, annual output was down about 8.4% in Hills. Co. and almost 9% in Polk County.  The beginning of this year we are looking at about a 2% decline in Hills. Co. and about a 3% decline in Polk County compared to 2016, at an annualized rate.  This will erase all the gains we have seen post-recession for the industry in these two counties.
There are some assumptions with these estimates: labor productivity is staying about the same for the years and is calculated at 37.5% of total expenses and about half of the industry doesn’t report labor costs to the state. These numbers are also before the hurricane season and it will be interesting to see what the annual numbers turn out to be in six months’ time.
According to the DPI list of registered nurseries in 2017 (which can be anything from a back yard to a full blown wholesale operation), we are down about 50 in Hillsborough to 350 (-12.5%) and 30 in Polk to 207 (-11.9%).     

Old/Outdated Pesticide Collection and Disposal Event

If you have some old or outdated pesticides that are only taking up room in the pesticide shed and would like to dispose of them in a responsible manner, please consider the following event that has a solution to your problem...

Hillsborough County Offers Free Agriculture Pesticide Collection January 30 Collection Day Reduces Public Health Risk and Educates Agriculture Community on Best Practices

Hillsborough County, Fla. (Nov. 30, 2017) - Hillsborough County agricultural operations can dispose of stored pesticides that are out-of-date, suspended, or unusable during a free Agriculture Pesticide Collection and Education Day on Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., at US Ecology, 7202 E. 8th Ave. in Tampa.

The collection effort is part of an initiative to provide farmers a safe and efficient way to dispose of unusable pesticides, and to avoid the potential public health and environmental risks associated with long term storage of these pesticides. The initiative also educates agricultural pesticide users on proper handling, storage, and management practices.

The Agricultural Pesticide Collection and Education Day is hosted through a partnership between the Hillsborough County Economic Development Agriculture Industry Development Program, the Hillsborough County Extension Service, and the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County. The five previous county pesticide collection events, held between 2003 and 2017, have resulted in the safe disposal of 96,143 pounds of agricultural pesticides.

Funding for the collection is being provided through a grant from the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County Pollution Recovery Fund. This funding is limited, and the collection will be closed when funding is exhausted.

Pesticide manufacturers and distributors, homeowners, universities and government institutions, including state, county and local government pesticide users, are not eligible to participate.

For more information on the collection, contact Simon Bollin, Agriculture Industry Development Program Manager, Hillsborough County Economic Development Department, at (813) 276-2735 or BollinS@HCFLGov.net

UF/IFAS Extension Production Field Day at Hibernia Nursery

Don't forget to register for a production field day at Hibernia Nursery.  Visit with the folks at Hibernia and learn some new things with UF/IFAS Extension. 

An irrigation control system has been developed at the University of Florida, IFAS. The irrigation control system called CIRRIG uses onsite weather and leaching fraction information to automatically adjust irrigation run times daily. You will learn how CIRRIG works and see plants grown with overhead sprinkler and micro-irrigation.

A watering station is used to irrigate plants immediately after planting. The watering station complies with new Best Management Practice guidelines for mitigating nutrients in runoff water.

Pest control at Hibernia Nursery is accomplished with the Airtec Sprayer. The efficient delivery of pesticides and precision control of pests have reduced costs.

The event will be on December 7, 2017, at 09:00 and run until 13:30 with a lunch being served.  Tickets are free but you must preregister for a spot.  Registration is limited to 40 people
and closes Dec. 5, 2017. Please register to receive lunch.  Here is the link if you would like to attend.  www.tiny.cc/Hibernia_BMP

Here is the agenda...
9:00 a.m. - Check In
9:15 a.m.  - Introductions and Overview of Technologies
10:00 a.m.  - Visit Field Sites
12:15 p.m.  - Lunch
1:00 p.m.  - Concluding Comments

The location will be at HIBERNIA NURSERY 1176 C. 478A, Webster, Florida 33597

Participants requiring special accommodations contact 352.569.6862 five days prior to event.