[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 160 (Thursday, October 29, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1561]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING JERRY DAVIS AS THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL INNOVATOR 
                              OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 29, 2015

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I 
rise to recognize Mr. Jerry Davis from Florida's First Congressional 
District, for being selected as the Northwest Florida Agricultural 
Innovator of the Year.
   Jerry's love of farming derives from his childhood, when he helped 
grow soybeans and wheat on his family's farm. Since the beginning, 
Jerry has been an innovator in the agricultural arena. By the time he 
was 20, he designed a seed conditioning plant to clean and bag seed for 
planting. In 1987, he became involved in the testing of a crop 
simulation model developed by scientists in USDA's Agricultural 
Research Services and Mississippi State and Clemson Universities. The 
model allowed participants to optimize inputs in relation to weather, 
nitrogen, moisture stress, crop maturity, growth resultants, and 
harvest aid materials. As a result of this innovative project, Jerry 
and the other participating growers saw net profits on test fields 
increase by more than $30 per acre.
   In the late 1990s, Jerry began expanding his farming operation from 
Santa Rosa County to Escambia County in Florida and Baldwin and Hale 
counties in Alabama. At the time, he was the only peanut grower in Hale 
and one of the first in Baldwin. Similarly, he was one of the first 
farmers to grow 30-inch twin row peanuts and use grid sampling and 
precision agriculture to perfect his technique over thousands of acres.
   Most recently, Jerry has partnered with the University of Florida, 
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to grow carinata, a plant 
that has the potential to help meet the renewable energy demands of the 
United States. Along with Northwest Florida scientists, Jerry is 
testing the viability of carinata in Northwest Florida and its 
potential use as a source of renewable jet fuel.
   The Davis family farming tradition continues today as his wife Patty 
and daughter Caitlynn are also active on the farm, which comprises 
cotton, peanuts, wheat, corn, soybeans, vegetables, livestock, and 
other crops.
   Aside from his agricultural contributions, Jerry is known throughout 
his community for his kind nature and willingness to help others. Jerry 
has participated in 12 mission trips to Central and South America, 
spreading his faith and helping those in need, and every Thanksgiving, 
he and his family donate sweet potatoes that are included in a box of 
Thanksgiving food that is provided to members of the Escambia and Santa 
Rosa counties in need.
   Despite his busy schedule, Jerry is always happy to promote 
Northwest Florida agriculture and also has a very extensive civic 
resume including serving as District I Florida Farm Bureau Director 
since 2009, Santa Rosa County Farm Bureau President, Chairman of the 
Agricultural Research Committee for Cotton Incorporated, a member of 
the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Peanut Advisory Committee, a 
member of the Southern Cotton Growers Farm Bill Task Force, and a 
director of the Florida and Southeastern Boll Weevil Eradication 
Foundation, Inc. Board.
   Mr. Speaker, Northwest Florida and our Nation share a proud 
agricultural tradition built by the hard work of farmers and their 
families. The Northwest Florida Agricultural Innovator of the Year 
Award is a reflection of Jerry's tireless work and dedication to 
improving farming practices. On behalf of the United States Congress, I 
would like to offer my congratulations to Jerry Davis for being 
outstanding in his field. My wife Vicki and I extend our best wishes to 
him and the Davis family for their continued success.

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