HUGH ENGLISH –ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD

Hugh English’s determination, innovative nature and public service were recognized with his induction into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Foundation February 12, 2008.  

By Barbara Wunder, FFVA communications manager

Hugh English was still in his twenties when he faced a heck of a challenge. His employer, A. Duda and Sons, had recently purchased land in Hendry County, Florida, south of LaBelle, expanding their agricultural operations. This land was scheduled for development into citrus, including a citrus nursery and vegetables.

Old groves in Southwest Florida were usually planted on hammock land near rivers and creeks. This environment was more fertile than the recently-purchased land, it held moisture well, provided drainage and the soil profile was suitable for deep root systems.

The newly purchased “flatwoods” land posed water control problems for which English and the Duda team were charged with finding solutions. Drainage was required to prevent water damage during the wet season and irrigation was required in the dry season. Root systems were shallow and the water holding capacity was low. To address these challenges, lateral ditches were dug to provide drainage and irrigation water for volume guns. Net land utilization was low as so much land was required for roads, swales, lateral ditches and a major canal system.

Some of the land converted to citrus had been in pasture and torpedo grass thrived on land that had been disked and bedded making it extremely hard to control. Grove equipment was limited primarily to mowing machines and tree hoes as choppers did not work well in bedded groves and herbicides had not yet been developed.

"Today it is hard to imagine trying to grow citrus profitably without herbicides, low volume irrigation, low volume sprayers, high speed hedgers and toppers, front end loaders for tree removal and other innovations," said English. "However, this was the norm in those days."

Following Hugh English's nomination to the Florida Ag Hall of Fame, the organization posted his picture and biography for Florida State Fair visitors to view. (Click on photo for a larger version.)

But English and other growers were not alone. They made full use of the expert assistance available from researchers and the extension staff at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science and Division of Plant Industry personnel.

"This was a learn-as-you-go time and we collaborated with IFAS personnel, chemical company research representatives and irrigation equipment manufacturers on methods, materials and equipment to improve production practices," said English. "Situations are different in each grove and some things you have to figure out for yourself," he said, adding that some of the problems were solved by pure luck. "Mr. Ferdinand Duda’s philosophy was that the fellow who worked the hardest usually had the most luck," said English.

Over his tenure with A. Duda and Sons, English ’s responsibilities evolved into citrus development, production, nursery operation and land development.

Hugh English’s determination, innovative nature and public service were recognized with his induction into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Foundation February 12, 2008.  

PIONEER FARM FAMILY

English grew up on the family farm, land his grandfather first worked in the 1870s. Small farms were diversified and basic knowledge was acquired about citrus, cattle, vegetable production and the land as he was growing up.  "I didn’t have any other aspirations other than to be in agriculture," he says.

English majored in animal science at the University of Florida, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. After serving a term in the United States Army he took a job with the Florida Department of Agriculture's Division of Plant Industry before coming to A. Duda and Sons, Inc. were he remained for 35 years.  Three years after his hiring, he was promoted to LaBelle Grove Manager; in 1976 he was promoted to general manager of all the groves and in l991 was promoted to Corporate Vice President in charge of the citrus operations.

GIVING BACK

During those years, English found time to serve as a leader in the Florida citrus industry as well as the community itself. FFVA remembers him as a recent chairman. However, the leadership roles started as president of the Hendry County Farm Bureau and included an appointment to the Florida Citrus Commission, where he served a term as chairman, an appointment to South Florida Water Management Governing Board, and chairman of the Big Cypress Basin Board.

Southwest Florida was the largest area of the state without an Agricultural Research Center and it was recognized that research was the life blood of agriculture. English and growers from all of the major commodity groups in Southwest Florida worked with IFAS and the legislative delegation for several years on the effort that ended with the establishment of the Agricultural Research and Education Center in Immokalee.

Hugh English and his wife, Beverly, enjoy a dance at the 2006 FFVA convention's 1950s theme party.

English was a member of the Making American Agriculture Productive and Profitable Committee for two years. The American Farm Bureau’s board of directors created MAAP in 2003 as a two-year agricultural study group. The committee's works have recently been published.

His efforts were noticed. English; his wife, Beverly; and two daughters; Katherine and Caroline, were named Farm Family of the Year by the Hendry County Farm Bureau in 179. UF honored his as Citrus Club Man of the Year in 1988. He also was recognized as Agriculturist of the Year by the Florida Association of County Agents, received UF’s Alumni of Distinction Award, was inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame, and in 2006 earned FFVA’s Distinguished Service Award.

CHALLENGES THEN AND NOW

Over the years, English remembers many satisfying moments as well as challenges. “Change is inevitable”, he said, “We have made so much progress in the last 40 or 50 years in mechanization and use of materials. We’ve gone from hand labor to machinery and materials pretty universally across production agriculture. We are still dependent on hand labor in harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables because we haven’t been able to completely cross that barrier. It is impressive to look at the improvements in productivity and cost reduction per unit and the benefit to consumers.”

English remains excited about both professional and personal endeavors in the future. He’s not the type to look back. “I’ve been blessed in my life and I don’t want to go back and second guess anything. You have to realize you made the best decisions you could at the time under the circumstances and continue to look forward.”

Hugh English accepts the Distinguished Service Award in 2006 from then FFVA Chairman Tony DiMare.

As far as challenges the ag industry faces in the future, English worries about the homogenization of the world, the threat of exotic pest and diseases and our inability to control them in Florida. The world has become a much smaller place today and these challenges are very serious,” he said. He also points to the cost imposed by government rules and regulations, their impact on the profitability of agricultural operations and our ability to compete in the world market place

Still seeking to do his part to address those challenges, English is a current member of FFVA’s board of directors, serves on the Florida Farm Bureau citrus committee, is active in the Gulf Citrus Association, the Citrus Hall of Fame and the Florida Agricultural Council. In addition, he is involved in the family business and, of course, makes plenty of time for what’s really important, “Our grandchildren live here and I love to spend time with our daughters and their families.”

FFVA congratulates Hugh English on his induction into the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame.  It is an honor that is well deserved.