By developing a simple, $50 trap, University of Florida scientists can gather spores from a pathogen of pine trees and hopefully help prevent diseases from causing more harm to the multibillion-a-year forest industry. Millions of pine trees dot the southern landscape, and they’re susceptible to many diseases, including pitch canker, said Tania Quesada, an assistant research scientist with the UF …
UF/IFAS Study Illustrates Value Floridians, Others Place on Springs
Thousands of people take the cool plunge into one or more of Florida’s 1,000-plus springs each year, and each person derives $20 to $43 in recreational value beyond their travel expenses per visit, a new University of Florida study shows. Springs are ideal destinations for swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, picnicking and diving, and they’re one of the oldest tourist attractions in …
Polston Lab ‘Recruits’ Insects as Allies for Plants in Food Security Project
A University of Florida lab spearheaded a campaign to recruit insects as allies that can aid in reducing plant stress to enhance food security. The initial, 12-month “recruiting” effort by Jane Polston, a professor of plant pathology at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, successfully completes the first of three phases of a scheduled four-year project under the …
UF Study: Large Termite Colonies Less Vulnerable to Sprays Than Baits
Liquid sprays don’t control large subterranean termite colonies as well as baits, giving more credence to the benefits of baits as a way to minimize the bugs’ damage to structures, a new University of Florida study shows. Formosan and Asian subterranean termites are responsible for most of the $32 billion in economic damage to structures worldwide, UF Institute of Food …
Crayfish Personalities May Be Key to Understanding Water Ecosystems
Just like people come in different personalities, animals vary in their behavior. For example, some crayfish can be shier while others are bolder, a University of Florida scientist says. While crayfish are known as those little, lobster-like crustaceans eaten by some as a delicacy in soups, bisques and étouffées and are used by others as fish bait, Lindsey Reisinger and …
New Bee Lab for UF/IFAS
Last month, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) opened a brand new bee lab mini-campus at its Entomology and Nematology Department in Gainesville. Jack Payne, UF/IFAS senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, is excited about this new edition. New Bee Lab for UF/IFAS Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and …
NIFA Invests in Research to Solve Critical Water Problems
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced seven grants for research that will provide solutions to critical water problems across the United States. These awards were made through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Water for Food Production Systems Challenge Area. AFRI is authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and administered by …
UF/IFAS Connecting Students to the Real World
University of Florida has enjoyed seeing skyrocketing enrollment at their College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Many of those students are attracted to the education that UF/IFAS offers. Dr. Jack Payne, University of Florida senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, explains how they go beyond book learning to prepare these students for the real world. UF/IFAS Connecting Students …
UF Study: Buyers Want Environmentally Safe Strawberry Production
As buyers browse strawberry packages at the supermarket, they might see labels such as “organically grown” or “locally grown.” But they’d also like to know if the fruit was produced in a way that preserves the environment, a new University of Florida study shows. Consumers say they’ll pay more for strawberries grown in a manner that is sustainable, the research …
Egypt’s Wheat Production Illustrates Global Security Issues
Scientists, including many at the University of Florida, are trying to figure out how to feed 10 billion people worldwide by 2050. As they do, some UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers are studying how arid nations can produce enough crops to feed themselves and to avoid civil protests or even war. Egypt, for instance, lacks sufficient water …