As she grew up in rural Arkansas, Kati Migliaccio’s interest in agricultural engineering came naturally. She liked math, science and problem solving, so she wanted an engineering career, but not one that confined her to an office or lab. “I wanted a career that involved engineering, with an outdoor component,” said Migliaccio, who was recently named chair of the agricultural …
The 2018 Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day Coming Up Tuesday
The 2018 Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day is coming up Tuesday, July 24 in Moultrie, Georgia. Farmers are invited to attend and get practical information from the region’s top agricultural scientists about the newest technologies farmers can use to improve their operations. Tyron Spearman has the details. Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day is Tuesday In a release, Sunbelt Expo Executive Director Chip …
UF Researchers Zero in on Potential Threat of New Mosquito Virus
A virus responsible for an illness outbreak in Venezuela is spreading to other parts of the Americas, says a University of Florida scientist who is closely monitoring the Mayaro virus. Most recently, the virus was found in a child in Haiti in 2016. Even though the virus hasn’t infected anyone in Florida or the U.S., Barry Alto, an associate professor …
New Test Can Determine Nitrogen Levels in Soil
Nitrogen is the main nutrient added to cereal crops like corn, which makes them grow faster and stronger. But too much of a good thing could sometimes have negative outcomes. Too much nitrogen can run off with rainwater or leach through to soil and contaminate groundwater. Now, a simple, rapid and reliable test can determine the nitrogen amount in soil. …
UF, Georgia Tech Scientists to Begin Work on More Drought-Tolerant Peanut
Farmers and consumers can benefit from a more drought-tolerant peanut, and scientists from the University of Florida and Georgia Institute of Technology will soon begin research to develop a more resilient crop. With it, growers would be able to produce more market-ready peanuts, and consumers can get more of the protein-filled legume. UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences agronomists …
Children to Learn About Agriculture at UF/IFAS Citrus Youth Day
Children from across Florida will get a chance to learn about one of the major Florida agriculture industries at the second annual Citrus Youth Day. They might even get so inspired that they attend the University of Florida and pursue a career in agriculture, organizers say. Some 66 youth are scheduled to attend the event June 28 at the University …
Kelly Morgan Named New Director of UF/IFAS Southwest Florida REC
As Best Management Practices Coordinator for the state, Kelly Morgan has spent years helping growers find optimum ways to irrigate and fertilize their crops to maximize results. Now, he will get the chance to coordinate even more groundbreaking research. The University of Florida has named Morgan the new director of the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee, …
Brand New Georgia Forage Website
The University of Georgia Forage Extension program has a lot of information on its website, so transitioning their site to a new format has been a major undertaking. But it was recently announced that the final product of months of work have come to fruition. The brand new georgiaforages.com website transition is complete and the new site is up and running. If you spent …
UF/IFAS Researcher to Experiment with Algae in Space
A University of Florida scientist will use the International Space Station to see if algae can help recycle carbon dioxide and eventually be used to help make plastics, resins and even food. Initially, researchers want to improve algae’s ability to use light to capture carbon, and in turn, help support animal and plant life in space, said Mark Settles, a …
UF/IFAS Hopes to Grow Vanilla, Meet Consumer Demand
For dessert, how about a scoop of ice cream flavored with vanilla from Florida’s farmers? Because so many consumers enjoy vanilla, University of Florida scientists hope to help Florida farmers grow the bean. Consumers have an appetite for vanilla. The U.S. leads the world in imported vanilla beans, said Alan Chambers, an assistant professor of horticultural sciences at the UF …