composting

Consider Composting for Holiday Leftovers

Dan Environment, This Land of Ours

What to do instead of tossing those holiday leftovers that were “leftover” too long. Consider composting practices and the gift that keeps on giving. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Are there some Thanksgiving leftovers that will stick around in the refrigerator too long? Experts at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences suggest you …

citrus

Florida Citrus Industry Could Take Hit from Hurricane Ian

Dan Citrus, Weather

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE/Sept. 28, 2022) — Florida’s already-struggling citrus industry could take a hit from Hurricane Ian. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) said Wednesday that 375,000 acres of citrus groves could be affected by the massive hurricane, including 175,000 acres where hurricane-strength winds are expected and 200,000 acres likely to see tropical storm-force winds. “When hurricanes …

environmental

Agricultural Water Use Changes Proposed

Dan Citrus, Irrigation, Water, Wetland

Taylor Langford O’Bannon, food safety Extension agent for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), shared information on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposed changes to the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule. The changes pertain specifically to Subpart E (Agricultural Water). “The proposed changes, if finalized, will replace the pre-harvest microbial quality criteria and testing …

field day

Field Day to Feature GA and Nutrition Trials

Dan Citrus, Georgia

Growers will have the opportunity to learn more about recent citrus research trials on nutrition and gibberellic acid (GA) and their impact on tree health. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Polk County will host a field day on Dec. 14 to share research findings with growers. The field tours will begin with an overview …

data

How to Own Your Data and Profit From It

Dan Citrus, High-Speed Internet/Broadband, Technology

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, data derived from farms might be more valuable than the crops growers produce. That’s because farmers can make money from their information when companies use it for other purposes, says a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientist. The key for producers is to take ownership of their information. …

fungus

Fungus Suppresses Asian Citrus Psyllids

Dan Citrus, Huanglongbing (HLB)/Citrus Greening, Research

The citrus disease HLB, also known as citrus greening, has a formidable enemy in a fungal pathogen, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers reported. The fungus is Cordyceps javanica, strain Apopka, discovered by research scientist Lance Osborne in the mid-1980s. The fungus was isolated from dead insects on plants in a greenhouse at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research …

irrigation

Irrigation and Nutrient Management BMPs

Dan Citrus, Irrigation

A Citrus Expo presentation about best management practices (BMPs) focused on what growers should be doing now in their irrigation and nutrient management programs. The presentation noted that current BMPs were developed prior to HLB’s discovery in Florida in 2005, and that studies are underway to revise the citrus BMPs for nitrogen and phosphorus. The presentation was created by University …

hlb research

UF/IFAS Collaborates on HLB Research

Dan Citrus, Research

Several University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) faculty are collaborating with other universities and organizations on research, especially for HLB. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), summarizes the work they are doing on a variety of grant-funded projects. Rogers starts with a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded project led by the University …

arboriculture

From the Family farm to UF/IFAS: The New Chair of Environmental Horticulture

Dan Education, Florida, Research

by Brad Buck, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences When he was 4, Dean Kopsell moved with his family to a 200-acre nursery in northern Illinois. He spent days roaming the farm, wading in the creek that ran through the property and playing in the barns. In high school and college, Kopsell worked summers with his dad, selling …

scientists

Scientists Find Way to Surgically Strike Out Weeds That Impede Crop Growth

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Research

by Brad Buck University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences By using a combination of fumigants, University of Florida scientists believes they can surgically strike out some weeds that otherwise get in the way of vegetable growth. Researchers with the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences have shown that farmers can place fumigants in specific zones, rather …