Rescue dogs used in Florida to protect the state’s agriculture

Aug 10, 2015

Five dogs are sniffing out issues in Florida

Farmers are always looking for ways to protect their crops, whether it be through pesticides, insecticides and drones that fly above the fields and map out the problem areas.

Florida’s Department of Agriculture is protecting the state’s $120 billion agriculture industry by recruiting man’s best friend.

“Dogs' unparalleled sense of smell makes them indispensable to multiple industries, including law enforcement and health care. Here at the department, our working dogs are an integral part of our early detection efforts to identify invasive pests and disease that threaten Florida's agriculture industry,” stated Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.

There are currently five dogs, ranging from three to seven years old employed by the Department of Agriculture. They’ve most recently been detecting Giant African Land Snails, which are considered one of the most damaging snails on Earth because they’re known to eat as many as 500 different types of plants.

This isn’t the first time Florida has used dogs to protect the state’s agriculture.

Earlier in May 2015, dogs were used together with drones to detect which avocado trees are infected with laurel wilt; which emits a scent that dogs can pick up.

If dogs can be used to identify infected and diseased plants, what other animals could be used to help farmers protect their farms?

Goats are sometimes put into fields and act as a weed management tool by eating up the invasive weeds while some pigs are used to find truffle mushrooms.

Join the conversation and tell us what other animals could be used to protect your farm.

Video: How Can We Grow More Food With Less Impact?

For over two decades, Dr. Mitloehner has been at the forefront of research on how animal agriculture affects our air and our climate. With deep expertise in emissions and volatile organic compounds, his work initially focused on air quality in regions like California’s Central Valley—home to both the nation’s richest agricultural output and some of its poorest air quality.

In recent years, methane has taken center stage in climate discourse—not just scientifically, but politically. Once a topic reserved for technical discussions about manure management and feed efficiency, it has become a flashpoint in debates over sustainability, regulation, and even the legitimacy of livestock farming itself.

Dr. Frank Mitloehner, Professor and Air Quality Specialist with the CLEAR Center sits down with Associate Director for Communications at the CLEAR Center, Joe Proudman.