May 22, 2009

           Florida signs of occupancy. The fan and can in the window. The signs vary by region. In my neighborhood, look for brand new vehicles with Quebec license plates. West of Dixie, watch for abandoned sofas in the front yard. I biked all the way to Dania Beach at 7:30 AM, which took me right past ye olde Teresa’s place. When she finally makes up her mind to return for a visit, she’ll be sad she didn’t leave me her sectional sofa.
           After delving into the logistics of operating a ranch in Florida, I’m closer to understanding the problems of conservation. While ecology is a great idea, how does a cowboy ranch compete with an outfit using motorcycles and helicopters? Like with blueberries, I’m all for spending an extra dollar per pound for beef if it contributes to the environment. Prices are soaring and American beef is looking more like a luxury than a staple.
           Ask me about Florida cattle ranching. They've been doing it here since 1521, that's a century before the Pilgrims showed up and discovered popcorn. Nearly half of Florida agricultural land is cattle ranching, although much of it is "managed", meaning the native grass has been replaced with species of higher "forage value". It is nonetheless grass, so fertilizer use is minimal. That makes these ranches the largest tracts of pristine nature that remain. The Adams Ranch, for example, is 60,000 acres.
           Almost half of the biggest beef producers in America are in Florida. If you want to be a cowboy, your chances are better here than in Texas. Scrub land supports as little as 10 cows per acre, while an improved Florida acre can handle over 300 head. Unlike the huge western spreads leased from the government, Florida ranches are privately owned. That means no cattle roundups or drives, just the hard work of herding, tagging, and last but not least, castrating. Don't worry about the branding, the cows now have RFID chips. You still want to be a cowboy?
           Brazil, the fourth largest beef exporter, is expanding production as rapidly as possible. Around a quarter of the greenhouse gases pumped into the atmosphere comes from burning the Amazon jungle to clear the land. The Brazilians see this as no different than the Americans plowing up the prairie and insist it is their business what happens to their rainforest.
           I borrowed a battery charger and got the Taurus running. It overheats in a matter of minutes, so I have no way of getting Wallace from the airport. He's on the plane already. I have not rode in a taxi in years.