Citrus Production SMR Farms maintains approximately 900 acres of citrus groves for oranges and tangerines. Much of their crop is contracted to Tropicana for juice. Some is sold through various outlets as fresh fruit.

Citrus production throughout Florida is facing a huge challenge: citrus greening or HLB. Bradshaw says, “Te citrus greening problem started in Florida in 2005. It’s a disease caused by a bacterium that enters the plant through the feeding of a tiny insect called the Asian Citrus Psyllid. Once introduced, the bacteria clog up the phloem (the vascular tissue, like the ‘veins’ of the plant) compromising the root system first. As the root system shrinks and dies off, the fruit becomes small, misshapen and of reduced quality.”

According to Bradshaw, different practices are being used to combat it, including: spoon feeding, more frequent irrigation, adding compost around the roots to hold more water, using molasses as a nutrient source, and introducing a tiny parasitic wasp that feeds on the psyllid.

He says, “We’re using those practices, too, but they aren’t resolving the problem for SMR or the industry. Our production costs are up 30 percent over the last six years. Citrus production statewide this year is down to 72 million boxes. I can remember back before greening; production was around 300 million boxes. Citrus is Florida’s Signature Crop, so scientists are working very hard to come up with a solution. We’re hopeful that happens soon.”

Cattle Production Raising cattle dates back to the beginning of the ranch property. SMR Farms has established a reputation for excellent quality and breeding. Bradshaw says, “We’ve made extensive improvements in our pastures over the years, have fine-tuned our pasture turf maintenance practices and our experienced cattle manager has adopted state-of-the-art management practices. We currently have 1,800 head of beef cattle.”

And More Giving back to the industry and the community is another SMR priority. Bradshaw is on the Board of Directors of the Manatee County Farm Bureau, and represents Manatee County on the Farm Bureau Sod Advisory Board.

Hosting TPI’s 2017 Field Day is one more component of giving back. Bradshaw and his SMR Farms team will make sure all is ready to showcase some vintage equipment; the static displays of equipment, products and services; and the in-field demonstrations of harvesters, mowers, tractors, forklifts, tillers, installers and cultivators. Tere will be plenty to see, and it’s sure to be a great Field Day for everyone.

Tis total level of commitment to excellence has kept SMR Farms and its parent company growing strong since 1922.

TPI Turf News January/February 2017

Some of the SMR Farms turfgrass team are harvesting slabs. Sidebar: TPI Seed Test Plots

Te TPI Seed Test Plot program will be held in conjunction with the 2017 TPI International Education Conference & Field Day in Tampa, Florida, February 20-23. Viewing will take place during the Field Day, February 22, at SMR Farms.

Te program was established in 1992 as a means of offering Conference attendees greater levels of information, as well as providing turfgrass seed companies with greater exposure and marketing opportunities. Straight cool-season turfgrass seed varieties and seed blends could be submitted, with a maximum of ten varieties or blends per company.

Seed samples were sent to TPI Headquarters where they were assigned a unique number to ensure the source could not be identified. Tese anonymous seed samples were provided for planting under the direction of Dr. Kevin Kenworthy and Dr. J. Bryan Unruh of the University of Florida. Tey facilitated the seed test plot installation in September on the site of Field Day Host, SMR Farms in Bradenton, Florida. Te seed was applied, in accordance with NTEP recommended rates, into two non-adjacent plots, approximately 3-feet by 3-feet, within the test plot area. Te installing group utilized a grid chart to note the specific location of each sample, using the unique number provided by TPI.

After planting, SMR Farms maintained the area in routine fashion, identical to their standard maintenance practices. Tere were no special applications of materials (fertilizer, pesticides or water) or any mowing beyond that received by the adjacent sod fields.

All photos courtesy of SMR Farms.

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