bees

Blueberries and Bees, UF Scientists Play Matchmaker

Dan Florida, Fruits, Industry News Release, Pollinators, Research, Specialty Crops

(UF/IFAS) — Chew on this the next time you eat a blueberry: Every single blueberry is the result of a flower that was pollinated by a bee. In other words: no buzz, no berry. With that in mind, it’s no wonder blueberry growers bring in hives of honey bees or bumble bees when their blueberry bushes are in flower. “We …

asian giant

Asian Giant Hornets Arrive for Study and Preservation at ARS and Smithsonian Biorepository

Dan Industry News Release, Pollinators, Research, USDA

(USDA/ARS) — Five Asian giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia), from the first nest found in the United States, have taken a trip across the country to a Washington, D.C. area Agricultural Research Service (ARS) facility and the Smithsonian for study and preservation. ARS research entomologist Matt Buffington with the ARS Systematic Entomology Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland, accepted delivery of the flash …

Plant Protection Today – Tracking the Elusive Asian Giant Hornet

Dan Citrus, Field Crops, Fruits, Industry News Release, Pest/Pest Control, Pollinators, Research, Specialty Crops, USDA, Vegetables

PPQ Shares Cutting-Edge Methods with State Partner By Greg Rosenthal (USDA/APHIS) — After weeks of searching, Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) entomologists–—with some cutting-edge methods from USDA’s Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)–—have located and eradicated the first Asian giant hornet (AGH) nest ever found in the United States. For months, WSDA had been trying to find the nest they …

asian giant hornets

USDA Lure Attracts Live Asian Giant Hornets, Helps Lead to Nest Discovery

Dan Industry News Release, Pollinators, Research, USDA

(USDA/ARS) — A scent lure designed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists to attract Asian giant hornets played a key role in the discovery of the first nest of these invasive insects in the United States. Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) entomologists have verified several finds of Asian giant hornets in Whatcom County since December 2019. They have been …

natural

USDA Announces Deadline to Submit Wildfire, Hurricane Disaster Assistance Applications

Dan Aquaculture, Beef, Cattle, Citrus, Corn, Cotton, Dairy, Economy, Equine, Field Crops, Forestry, Fruits, Hemp, Industry News Release, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Organic, Pasture, Peanuts, Pecans, Pollinators, Pork, Poultry, Sheep-Goats, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, USDA, Vegetables, Wheat

Final Opportunity for 2018 and 2019 Disaster Recovery Assistance (USDA/FSA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, as the deadline to submit applications for the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus (WHIP+) for 2018 and 2019 losses. USDA did not originally specify a deadline when the program was announced. “The physical and financial loss experienced …

Increase Your Harvest Using Your Own Hands

Dan Pollinators, This Land of Ours

Todays This Land of Ours program Cathy Isom gives you a few tips about how to increase your harvest using your own hands. When our plants are having a little bit of trouble bearing fruit, even if the flowers bloom, it could be a sign that they need a little help from us in the form of hand pollination.  Many …

aquaculture

UF Surveys to Identify Impact of Pandemic on Florida’s Agriculture and Marine Industries

Dan Aquaculture, Beef, Cattle, Corn, Cotton, Dairy, Economy, Equine, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, Fruits, General, Hemp, Labor and Immigration, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Organic, Pasture, Peanuts, Pecans, Pollinators, Pork, Poultry, Research, Seeds, Sheep-Goats, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Vegetables, Wheat

(UF/IFAS) — With agriculture and marine industries occupying a large portion of Florida’s economy, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) wants to better understand how measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are impacting these sectors. Starting today, faculty from the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics (FRE) department are deploying surveys to UF/IFAS Extension agents …

How to Grow Your Own Popcorn Plant

Clint Thompson Environment, Pollinators, Soil

Today, Cathy Isom provides information of how you can grow your own popcorn plant. Homegrown popcorn is delicious with unique flavors that will lead to this being a permanent addition to your garden. You might not realize that there are many different types of corn. You can grow sweet corn, pod corn, flour corn, and popcorn. And there are many …

beekeeping class

UF Adds New Beekeeping Class and Apiculture Study Abroad Program to Course Offerings

Dan Education, Florida, Industry News Release, Pollinators

(UF/IFAS-CALS) —After seeing beekeeping named on a Top 10 list of neat classes at the University of Florida, Carson Beattie wanted to see what the hype was all about. “That’s when I fell in love with beekeeping,” said Beattie, a geology major. “It’s exciting because you’re always on your toes. It’s a good way to destress from other things – …