Agriculture's harvest

CITRA - Agriculture is a $100 billion shot of juice to Florida's economy and much of it - from golf course grass to sugar cane for gas - seems to have some connection to a 1,100-acre University of Florida research station in northern Marion County.

A bus load of elected Alachua County officials and others learned all about this research facility Thursday in a tour designed to illustrate how many ways Floridians are touched by UF's various agricultural schools, which fall under the umbrella known as the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

But the tour in Citra was not just to show the role IFAS plays statewide. Officials on the tour said it was also to try to send a message to UF President Bernie Machen - who was at the center of a recent controversy over the future of agriculture in Florida - that farming is still a major economic player.

"The challenge of increasing the yield of food as the farming land decreases in Florida is a huge challenge that requires the best science, the best funding," said committee member and tour organizer Ward Scott. "IFAS is going to become even more important."

A statewide farm debate was touched off in February when a monthly agriculture newspaper quoted Machen as saying Florida farming is a dying industry and is unworthy of a major state investment.

Machen's comments were reported Feb. 5 in the online version of Farm & Ranch News.

Machen denied making the remarks but the incident raised questions about the role of agriculture in Florida's economic future and the amount of research money that should be spent on it.

IFAS officials said Thursday that while Florida agriculture faces challenges from decreased farmland and other factors, it is and will remain a vital part of the state's economy.

The research taking place at the Citra facility will play a key role in that future, they added.

Scientists there are mapping the genome of corn. They have 85-year-old seeds from a variety of plants to preserve the lines. Every sort of turf grass that can be grown in Florida is grown at the station - which has golf course holes and soccer and football fields, complete with goals.

Organic crops are grown. New strains of blueberries are being created. Citrus trees are being bred. Crops such as sugar cane are being studied for their use as biofuel to replace gasoline.

"Our goal, since the start here, is to be the best field research facility in the United States, because we can work more months of the year than almost any other university can and we have more diversity than almost any other university," said research programs director Daniel L. Colvin. "We value and think that the future of agriculture in this state is exceptional."

Florida Agriculture Department spokesman Terence McElroy said agriculture is second only to tourism in Florida's economy, accounting for more than $100 billion annually. That has risen from an impact of $62 billion in 2000.

The data is based on a 2006 study by UF. It also showed that agriculture has an employment impact of 766,884 jobs.

Florida agriculture is facing pressures, primarily related to development.

More farmland is being sold for housing subdivisions in part because the value of land has escalated. A UF survey released in 2006 shows that the value of farmland increased between 50 percent and 88 percent, depending on the part of the state, in the past few years.

Meanwhile, the average age of farmers is increasing and fewer young people are farming, officials said.

But McElroy said Florida agriculture has consistently increased production. He said the need for more food as well as a growing emphasis on biofuels will keep Florida in the forefront.

"With the farm-to-fuel program, we are going to get farmers to use some of their spare acreage to grow energy crops. Commissioner (Charles) Bronson believes that agriculture in the next 10 years can double its value and economic impact," McElroy said. "With ample sunshine and, generally speaking, ample rainfall, we can grow crops and biomass 365 days a year. Commissioner Bronson believes there is no state in the country that can produce more biomass and ultimately more ethanol than Florida."

Machen recently announced plans to cut $47 million from UF's budget in response to cuts from the Florida Legislature. Nearly all colleges and units are set to be cut by about 6 percent, but agricultural programs took the biggest total dollar blow with $9.5 million in cuts. That includes the loss of 14 open faculty positions and 96 filled and vacant staff positions.

Among those on the tour were two Alachua County commissioners, some commission candidates, state Rep. Debbie Boyd of Newberry and farmers.

Cindy Swirko can be reached at 352-374-5024 or swirkoc@gvillesun.com.