Better Safe Than Sorry

As busy as we all are in our daily lives, sometimes the most common-sense actions can be lost in the mix. Unfortunately, a momentary lapse in judgment can have a long-lasting effect --- depending on the situation. The saying: “better safe than sorry” can be applied in some way to just about any physically demanding activity I can think of. One example that comes to mind involves those who work often or exclusively with high-powered machinery (tractors, mowers, etc..). Those mechanized marvels help pros and homeowners alike get the job done, but are usually chock full of fast-moving, sharp pieces and parts that require an operator’s full attention to successfully and safely navigate from one task to the next.

No matter if you think your operating skills are beyond honing, it certainly doesn’t hurt to brush up every once in a while on proper procedure, whether you are a professional or if you are a backyard weekend warrior.

With all that being said, I found it appropriate to mention a safety-awareness initiative Kubota Tractor Corp. is promoting. Part of this campaign includes its “Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety.”

According to the literature, the “Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety” are as follows:
1. Know your tractor, its implements, and how they work.
2. Use ROPS (rollover protective structures) and seat belt whenever and wherever applicable.
3. Be familiar with you terrain and work area --- walk the area first to be sure and drive safely.
4. Never start an engine in a closed shed or garage.
5. Always keep your power take-off (PTO) properly shielded.
6. Keep your hitches low and always on the drawbar. Otherwise, your tractor might flip over backwards.
7. Never get off a moving tractor or leave it with its engine running.
8. Never refuel while the engine is running or hot.
9. Keep all children off and away from your tractor and its implements at all times.
10. Never be in a hurry or take chances about anything you do with your tractor.

Click here to see more of Kubota’s take on the importance of tractor/equipment safety.

While these safety tips should already be ingrained in the heads of everyone who operates these machines (especially professionals), bad things can and do happen when we’re in a hurry, tired, distracted, or all of the above. In a situation where your tools can injure, maim, or even kill, if not used properly, a little extra precaution and preparation can go a long way in preventing such an occurrence.

Oh, and by the way, as part of Kubota’s safety message, they came up with a nice little safety prize promotional pack. The safety prize pack includes a Kubota duffel bag and inside you will find:
· A T-Shirt
· LED Flashlight
· Custom Puzzle and Kubota Safety Coloring Book (fun for the kids) and
· The "Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety" brochure

Kubota was gracious enough to provide me with a safety prize pack to give away to one lucky reader of this blog. Interested in winning this item? Log into Twitter and go to my Twitter feed and be the first to Direct Message me the answer to this:
Out of the “Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety,” which commandment do you think is the most important one to remember? (Hint: There is no wrong answer, since they are all important. I just want to see who is paying attention).

Good luck and, more importantly, stay safe.

A Learning Opportunity

Florida and citrus go hand in hand. They just go together. The deep-rooted history that surrounds producing citrus fruit and juices for the masses is truly iconic and a large part of what makes the Sunshine State special. Indeed, Florida does recognize and appreciate its citrus heritage. After all, the official state license plate bears an image of an orange and its signature blossom.

It's pretty cool, too, that us locals are privy to such a multitude of fresh citrus in our supermarkets and farmers markets. Better yet, it doesn't get any more fresh when you can either squeeze a glass of orange juice or cut into juicy grapefruit harvested from a tree in your own yard.


With all that in mind, I stopped by Apenberry's Nursery in Orlando this past weekend. My visit, however, was not to check out the plethora of flowering plants, fruiting trees, and hardgoods the garden center had on display, but to learn more about a new collaborative, consumer-oriented campaign from KeyPlex and Lake County-based container citrus grower Record Buck Farms.
Representatives from both operations were on hand to discuss details of the "My Citrus Tree" program, which features an informational website (MyCitrusTree.com) and showcases the rollout of KeyPlex Citrus H/G --- a new dooryard citrus micronutrient formula. The entire promotional package is geared specifically to citrus-caring homeowners.

After taking time to speak with Rich Johnston of KeyPlex Direct and Danny Finch of Record Buck Farms (see videos) at the event, it's clear the campaign's foundation is built on the basics of education. The main lesson being taught: A healthy citrus tree not only looks more attractive and produces consistent fruit, but also is better equipped to fight off pest and disease. The latter being of utmost importance.

Unfortunately, our subtropical climate, which makes it ideal to grow citrus, also can be the perfect breeding ground for invasive plant pests and diseases. Major case in point: The Florida citrus industry has been struggling with HLB (citrus greening disease) ever since it was first reported in South Miami-Dade County in August 2005. Much time and effort has been put into trying to find a cure for this devastating disease. With few promising leads and a possible solution still years away, a lot of those efforts lately have shifted in finding ways for growers to cope with HLB. Though the exchange of research-based information has been fast and furious on the industry side of things, the general public's knowledge of such a serious problem is minimal at best.



Kudos for the campaign's proactive nature. Timing couldn't be better for an initiative like this considering the need for basic information. Going off what little most people know about citrus greening gathered from mainstream media reports (unfortunately, the majority not very comprehensive), homeowners might be feeling pressure to cut and remove their otherwise healthy citrus tree(s) in lieu of possibly hosting a destructive, economically impacting disease in their own back yard. Who can blame them?

While cutting and removing HLB-infected trees has been a common practice in infected groves for years, more growers today are trying different methods to live with greening thereby prolonging their investment's productivity. Nutritional supplementation combined with vigilant psyllid (the disease's carrier) control is proving successful for some and is now being recognized as a viable avenue for growers fighting to stay in business.



In hopes of getting the message out and spreading the word about the campaign, KeyPlex and Record Buck Farms will be taking their show on the road (plastic pink flamingos and all) and hosting similar events at multiple garden centers and nurseries around the state, according to Johnston. Locations and dates are still to be determined.

Homeowners who care to keep their citrus, or who are interested in purchasing a citrus tree for their yard (like myself), certainly need to understand the scope of greening's challenge. Sharing industry knowledge on a grand scale --- especially with those willing to learn what to look for and how to proceed --- is only going to help in this case. And, if that means protecting and ultimately saving citrus in professional groves as well as in back yards, even better. That's something all us citrus-loving Floridians can agree on and drink to --- OJ that is.