Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Rick Dantzler
Remembering words of faith and hope from a Jimmy Carter Sunday School class | Commentary Original
Editor's note: A version of this column from former state Sen. Rick Dantzler of Winter Haven ran in The Ledger in 2004. The morning of Oct. 17, 2004, was the Sunday of the opening weekend of hunting season in Georgia. However, instead of rising early and heading to my tree stand, I drove to the Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains to attend a Sunday School class taught by former President Jimmy Carter. At 10 o’clock sharp, in walked President Carter.
Got Citrus Greening? Symptoms Might Not Show up for Weeks After Infection
By Phys.org|December 17, 2021 For the first time ever, scientists have been able to measure the speed of a bacterium that causes the incurable citrus greening disease. Citrus greening disease (also known as HLB) is the most devastating citrus disease in the world. Afflicted trees grow yellow leaves and low-quality fruit and eventually stop producing altogether, resulting in enormous economic losses to farmers.
Don't Let Leafminers Duck Under Your Crop Protection Radar
By Gene McAvoy|December 16, 2021 Leafminers are particularly damaging on celery, crucifers, cucurbits, okra, potato, and tomato. In South Florida, populations peak between November and March, while in Central Florida they are a problem in both spring and fall. Photo courtesy of Clemson University The two major species of leafminer in Florida are the vegetable leafminer (Liriomyza sativae) and the American serpentine leafminer (L. trifolii).
Learn the 3 New Cs of Citrus Variety Evaluation
By Peter Chaires|December 13, 2021 The HLB era in Florida citrus has certainly altered the way routine tasks are performed. Nutrition, rootstock selection, grove architecture, and many other functions, once routine and invariable, are now approached from an entirely new perspective. For some growers, every step in their production system is in a fluid state, making the learning process more complex than ever. Nurseries and growers have tried every combination of everything.
Better Together: Why the 1935 Florida Citrus Commission Had it Right
By Shannon Ross Shepp|December 18, 2020 Members of the first Florida Citrus Commission, taken in 1935. Photo courtesy of Florida Department of Citrus In his departing words to the industry, former Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Ned Hancock shared a history lesson we could all use. When the Citrus Commission was first formed in 1935, it was lauded as a unique government entity with the power to support Florida citrus growers and transform the trajectory of our industry.
Common Bacterial Blight of Beans Can Strike in a Snap
By Gene McAvoy|December 17, 2020 Common bacterial blight is the most frequently encountered bacterial disease of snap bean in Florida. Photo by Howard F. Schwartz Common bacterial blight, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli, can be severe during periods of warm, humid weather with heavy rainfall. Leaf symptoms of common bacterial blight first appear as small, water-soaked spots on the underside of the leaves.
How we forged a compromise 25 years ago to pass the Everglades Forever Act | Opinion
The Everglades Forever Act marks its 25th anniversary this month. The original sponsor of the bill, former state Sen. Rick Dantzler, writes that today’s legislators could learn some valuable lessons about how he and other lawmakers forged a compromise in passing the original legislation. (Susan Stocker) During my time in the Florida Legislature, I often thought of how mindsets from different eras created issues needing to be addressed by future generations.
Column: Agriculture commissioner should protect rural Florida
If all of the people moving to Florida were to locate in the same place, we would create a city the size of Tampa every year. Not just this year or next, but every year for as long as you and I can hope to live. Every year, we lose nearly 200,000 acres to development — and this has been going on for a long time. Too many people are here already, and too many new people are going to arrive. Saying such a thing draws strange reactions.
Save rural Florida. Here's how to do it. | Opinion
No matter how concerted the effort, our state will continue to be a net gainer of people — which threatens rural Florida — so the only choice we have is to force growth to go up, not out. How would we do it?
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Rick
Contact Rick, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack