Sarasota County Extension rolling out farm and ranch bus tour Nov. 15

Sarasota County Extension rolling out farm and ranch bus tour Nov. 15

Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC

SARASOTA COUNTY – Get a first-hand look at core agricultural operations in Sarasota County and learn directly from area farmers, ranchers and other growers about their accomplishments and challenges, on a day-long bus tour hosted by UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.

The Nov. 15 event, which runs 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will showcase an industry that continues to be a driving force in the area, responsible for producing upward of $48 million of market value of goods annually, but which faces challenges in the years ahead.

“The acreage in farms and the number of operating farms have been declining for decades, and the trend will likely continue, given the pressures of development, weather, and market conditions,” said Dr. Rod Greder, sustainable agriculture agent at Sarasota County Extension. “If we want to maintain a successful local food and ag community, then we need to tell their stories and provide support to help remove barriers and address challenges.”

According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, around 300 active farms in Sarasota County now work roughly 71,000 acres, or about 20 percent of the total land in the county, well down from the 30-40 percent of county land farmed just three decades back.

While the total land farmed has fallen, the array of products remains substantial, including citrus, blueberries, kale, tomatoes, honey, and a wide range of nursery plants. Also important in that output are livestock—including 14,000 head of cattle—poultry and eggs, and aquaculture products.

The Nov. 15 tour will highlight key aspects of the local agricultural scene, including:

A family-owned cattle ranch;
A thriving vegetable farm;
Agricultural history, at Crowley Museum and Nature Center; and
Agricultural education, at The Farm at McIntosh Middle School.

The tour also will include information about a beginning farm incubator initiative launched by UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County in partnership with Mote Aquaculture Research Park, and efforts to create a support system for aspiring farmers, to help build the pipeline for continued agriculture in the county.

Plus, speakers will discuss the agricultural practices of Florida’s indigenous peoples and ongoing measures to preserve land through conservation easements. The tour is part of our community’s recognition of the national Nov. 20-27 Farm-City Week, which celebrates rural-urban partnerships in food production.

Cost for the tour is $69 per person, and includes a seat on an air-conditioned bus, a guided tour at each stop, informational handouts, breakfast snacks, and a grilled lunch at The Farm. Learn more and reserve one of the limited spots for the tour by visiting tiny.cc/ufsaraext_farmtour. Seats are filling fast, so save your spot today.

In addition to UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, event sponsors include Sarasota County Farm Bureau, Sarasota County Cattlemen’s Association, Sarasota Soil and Water Conservation District, and Sarasota County School District.