report

Report Shows Florida Agriculture, Natural Resources and Food Industries Grew 2007-2016

Dan Economy, Florida, Industry News Release

The latest installment of an annual report from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences reveals some good news about the state’s economy – from 2007 to 2016, the portion of Florida’s Gross State Product (GSP) generated by agriculture, natural resources and food industries grew at a faster rate than the state’s total GSP, a statistic commonly …

florida youth

Florida Youth Institute Challenging High School Students

Dan Education, Florida

The University of Florida (UF) has enjoyed seeing skyrocketing enrollment in its College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. The Florida Youth Institute was developed to make sure UF produces enough graduates to fill job vacancies, says Jack Payne, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources. Florida Youth Institute Challenging High School Students

students

UF/IFAS Connecting Students to the Real World

Dan Education, Florida, Research

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 …

buyers

UF Study: Buyers Want Environmentally Safe Strawberry Production

Dan Florida, Fruits, Research

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 …

global

Egypt’s Wheat Production Illustrates Global Security Issues

Dan Industry News Release, Research, Wheat

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 …

study

UF Researcher to Study Migration Trends, Health of Emerging Farm Workers

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration, Research

As the University of Florida IFAS Extension director for Hendry County, Gene McAvoy has seen firsthand a sea change in the types of workers now coming to the United States to work on farms. “It used to be 95 percent or more of the workers were from Mexico,” McAvoy said. “Now, it’s about 50 percent from Haiti and the Caribbean. …

stop-gap

Crop-Damage Assessment System Will Speed Reporting After Disasters

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Weather

In the wake of Hurricane Irma, economists with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) realized that its  Extension colleagues needed a better system for reporting damages and losses suffered by producers – something faster, more focused and more standardized. Today, that better system is in place. A team with the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics …

tailgating

Florida-Grown Foods Part of Rich Tailgating Tradition

Dan Beef, Citrus, Corn, Dairy, Field Crops, Florida, Fruits, Industry News Release, Pork, Poultry, Vegetables

Set up the grill; it’s tailgating season. Chicken, burgers, corn, slaw, potato salad, chips – and maybe some fresh fruits and vegetables — are just some staples for the weekly ritual that coincides with football season. Some will win before the games start by eating Florida-grown foods. College football enthusiasts nationwide can take comfort in tips from University of Florida …

related

UF/IFAS a Trusted Source of Agricultural-Related Information

Dan Field Crops, Florida, Fruits, Industry News Release, Livestock, Research, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Vegetables, Water

Florida’s county commissioners look to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for reliable agricultural-related information, according to a recent study. In May 2018, the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (PIE Center) surveyed 43 county commissioners to identify the sources they use for information on agriculture, food, water and natural …

production

UF Study: Cool, Calm Cows Have More Meat, Dairy Production

Dan Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Florida, Research

Cattle are a little like humans: They are more productive when they are cooler. With cattle, a cooler body helps with meat and dairy production, new University of Florida research shows. Cows with shorter hair are cooler, and thus, more productive, said Raluca Mateescu, an associate professor of animal sciences at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. A …