More than 60 plant species can poison livestock. However, just a few species cause most of the problems. Toxic plants can be native or exotic; most are broadleaved.

Florida’s climate is ideal for dozens of poisonous plant species such as: 

•Bracken fern

•Showy crotalaria

•Lantana

•Nightshades (solanaceae)

•Tomatoes

•Irish potatoes

•Eggplant

•Black night-shade

•Horsenettle

•Jimsonweed

•Spotted water hemlock

•Red maple

•Prunus species

•Daturas

•Cassias

•Oleander

•Carolina jasmine

•Perilla mint

•Rhodendrons

•Azaleas

•Wild honey suckle

•Mountain laurel

•Pokeberry

•Tung tree

Poisonous plants most often are in new pastures or other areas of recently disturbed soil. Neglect and overgrazing are common conditions for poisonous plants to thrive. Dry water holes, old burn piles or trash piles, fence rows, ditch and creek edges and nutrient-rich areas (feeding sites and manure piles) are other common sites to find toxic weeds.

Livestock generally eat poisonous plants under conditions such as:

•Starvation

•Deficient rations

•Overgrazing and drought

•Being inadvertently fed them as fodder

•Curiosity

•Good taste

So, what can you do about poisonous plants in your pastures? 

•Walk through the pasture frequently and submit samples of any unfamiliar or suspicious plant to the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences extension office.

•Know your hay source, as poisonings can result from feeding infested hay.

•Remember that any cultural practice that results in species diversity in the pasture increases the chances of plant poisoning.

•Don’t allow your livestock to graze in the yard. Many exotic landscape plants are toxic and unfamiliar to the animals.

•Prevention is the key since few antidotes can be administered.

In most cases, veterinarians can only provide supportive treatment to affected animals, according to the Foundation for the Gator Nation.

Jennifer Bearden is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Identify strange plants to prevent spread of poisonous ones

CRESTVIEW — Meredith Majors' passion for moviemaking led her to numerous behind-the-scenes roles: from catering, to makeup and working with camera operators and lighting specialists.

The 2000 Baker School alumna also has appeared on camera, namely as Angelina Jolie's stunt double in 2005's "Mr. and Mrs. Smith."

Follow "Lake Eerie" on Facebook or visit the film's official website>>

But her biggest endeavor yet may be a horror film for which she is a star, writer and producer. She is working on the final cut with her husband, Chris, the film's director and co-star.

In "Lake Eerie" — which began filming last month in LaSalle, Mich. — Majors plays a young widow who moves into a lakeside house near the titular body of water, and soon discovers she is not alone.

"It's in the horror/ thriller/ science fiction genre," she said.

The film features Lance Henriksen, of "Aliens" and "Terminator," along with notable talents behind the camera, including Director of Photography David M. Brewer, who worked on "Insidious," and special effects makeup by Robert Kurtzman, of "Predator" and "Army of Darkness."

Majors — who studied theatre at Florida State University — said she was working as a "struggling actor" in Los Angeles when she met and married Chris. Later, the couple started their own production company, Savage Beast Films.

The couple used a portion of their savings to finance the production, which also received support from producers and supporters on the crowdfunding website Indiegogo.com.

The Motion Picture Association of America hasn't rated the film — which producers expect to be released by June 2014 — but Majors said she hopes for a PG-13 rating.

Completing the film was "a dream come true" for the couple, Majors said.

"Whatever happens, they can never take this away from us," she said.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker School alumna to star in horror movie she wrote

NICEVILLE — Crestview High School graduate Josh Long gets several dozen people's immediate attention when he calls out, "Pipe coming in!"

Long and Crestview resident Mike Patenaud can lower some often hefty equipment on the heads of unwary fellow stagehands at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center.

See load-in video here>>

See photos here>>

"When you hear 'pipe coming in,' that's the most dangerous time to be on the stage," Northwest Florida State College theatre professor, actor, director and set designer Clint Mahle says.

Long, Patenaud and the rest of a combined student, local professional and traveling stagehand crew spent the morning of Nov. 12 loading in "The Addams Family," the most recent touring Broadway musical to play the venue.

Few audience members are aware that the choreographed performances they see in the theatre are preceded by a similarly choreographed and professional pre-show flurry of activity.

Pre-show

At 7:30 a.m., student and local professional stagehands gather for a load-in briefing, dividing into carpentry, electrical, costume and sound teams.

A half-hour later, the teams begin unloading tractor-trailers that arrived in the wee hours. For "The Addams Family," equipment, props, costumes and scenery traveled 500 miles from Shreveport, La., the night before.

By 10 a.m., the four trailers are empty, their contents distributed around the stage, in the wings, in dressing rooms or zooming up into the fly-space above the stage.

Long — one of Mahle's students before he graduated from NWFSC and went to the University of Tampa to study film and communications — says he likes keeping in touch with his theatre roots.

"I like being able to switch around," he says. "I never feel lacking for something to do. It keeps me on my feet."

About 90 percent of the production's approximately 50 stagehands are NWFSC students, Mahle says.

It's about the kids

"Student crews run this place. It's all about them," Mattie Kelly Arts Center Technical Director Bob Whittaker says. "They have opportunities to observe and watch, and that's when it hits home.

"You can tell them all you want in the classroom, but until they actually do it, it doesn't really hit home."

First-time student crew members team up with professionals. Many techies who travel with the shows patiently guide students through the load-in process, becoming valuable professional contacts in the process.

Many NWFSC students who graduate with a two-year fine arts degree and head off to other schools to complete their theatre studies say their experiences on Mattie Kelly stage crews gave them an advantage over their classmates.

"This and Clint's acting class helped prepare me for the University of Tampa," Long says. "I was leaps and bounds ahead of everyone in my class."

"We want everybody to be successful," Whittaker says. "We also do it to train the kids. You're not only learning; you're (also) getting paid to learn.

"It's a win-win for the college, the kids and the community."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Students get on-the-job training in 'the show before the show' (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

You don’t have to be an expert gardener or landscaper to create a Florida-friendly yard. All it takes is willingness to learn and desire to build a beautiful yard that protects our environment.

Florida-friendly landscaping is now part of state law, which prohibits governments and homeowners associations from preventing implementation of its principles. 

Fertilizing appropriately and watering efficiently are two of the nine Florida-friendly landscaping principles.

Click here to learn more about Florida-friendly landscaping>>

All commercial fertilizer applicators must have a license from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by Jan. 1, 2014.  To get this license, each Green Industry employee must be trained in Best Management Practices, which teaches professionals how to implement FFL principles. 

To address water conservation, Florida law states: “Any person who operates an automatic landscape irrigation system shall properly install, maintain and operate technology that inhibits or interrupts operation of the system during periods of sufficient moisture." Irrigation contractors must ensure there is an operational rain shut-off device on site before they can perform services. If it doesn’t exist or isn’t working, the contractor can be fined for not reporting the property owner or by completing the repair work without installing or repairing the rain shut-off device.

Right Plant, Right Place, along with Mulch, Attracting Wildlife, Managing Yard Pests Responsibly, Recycling, Reducing Stormwater Runoff and Protecting the Waterfront are the titles of other principles. 

Using landscape techniques to reduce factors that negatively affect natural resources is the foundation of Florida-friendly landscaping. 

You'll save money, reduce workload and protect the environment by implementing these practices.

Sheila Dunning is a Commercial Horticulture Extension agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Florida-friendly landscaping is the law

CRESTVIEW — Members of the community theatre troupe View from the Stage are rehearsing for the company's largest production in its two-year history.

But to bring "A Christmas Carol" to the Warriors Hall stage next month, producers need sponsorships.

Berit Faust, who handles the troupe's publicity and other tasks, said the cast's size — more than 40 adult and child actors — is just one of the challenges.

"A Christmas Carol" is an expensive show to produce, and Warriors Hall rental fees are just part of the cost.

View from the Stage needs to purchase stage lighting and sound equipment to augment the community hall's basic technology.

Additionally, troupe members must build Victorian sets and have costumes; then there are usual factors like advertising in the show's program and ticket sales.

View from the Stage has created an account on Kickstarter.com, which facilitates fundraising to purchase four high-quality microphones and two heavy-duty light stands, estimated to cost $3,500. Six backers had pledged $236 as of press time, the website stated.

"View from the Stage has proven that Crestview has talented actors and volunteers that can produce a show like 'A Christmas Carol,'" the troupe's online appeal states. "Now, we want to make sure that it can be properly seen and heard!"

WANT TO HELP?

View from the Stage, Crestview's community theatre troupe, seeks financial support for production of "A Christmas Carol," the company's Dec. 12-15 musical. Contact Berit Faust, 398-8239 or viewfromthestagecct@gmail.com, or click here to directly donate.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community theatre seeks sponsorships for 'A Christmas Carol'