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 …
Florida-Grown Foods Part of Rich Tailgating Tradition
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 …
UF/IFAS a Trusted Source of Agricultural-Related Information
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 …
UF Study: Cool, Calm Cows Have More Meat, Dairy Production
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 …
SmartPath Technology to Lead to Smart Farm Irrigation
By testing new technology, University of Florida scientists will work with growers to encourage their use of alternatives to fresh water by using new smart irrigation systems. This way, growers can lower their risk of transferring pathogens from water to crops, said Eric McLamore, an associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural …
National Avocado Day a Reminder of the Fruit’s Popularity
Pass the guacamole: July 31 is National Avocado Day, a good time to celebrate the traits of another delicious, nutrient-packed food and Florida crop, say University of Florida experts. While some people simply love the taste of guacamole, others also value the healthy traits of the fruit with which it’s made, the avocado. “Most notably, they are a good source …
UF/IFAS Scientists Use Fungus to Manage Asian Citrus Psyllid
Fighting plant disease with jet blast sprays is standard practice for citrus growers. But, to spray a fungus to control a single insect that carries a disease-causing pathogen is uncommon. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Florida Research Center for Agricultural Sustainability researchers have begun to test an insect-killing fungus applied with horticultural oil sprays in …
4-H Extracurricular for My Child? 10 Reasons Why
With so many extracurricular activities available these days, parents and kids are overwhelmed with choices. To choose the right one, know what to prioritize, says Heather Kent, associate director of the Florida 4-H youth development program, part of University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension. “The 4-H motto is ‘To make the best better.’ The research shows …
Retired UF/IFAS Agronomist Celebrates 106th Birthday
Elver Hodges, who started working at the University of Florida Range Cattle Research and Education Center just before the U.S. entered World War II, plans to celebrate his 106th birthday with family and friends a few days before his Aug. 2 birthday. An agronomy professor with the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences for 39 years, Hodges introduced improved …
Growers Invited to WFREC Extension Farm Field Day
The University of Florida/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center (WFREC) invites growers to attend their Extension Farm Field Day, Friday, August 10. Learn more about the event by checking out this 2018 Extension Farm Field Day Flyer. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark …