Florida lawmakers

Florida Agriculture Included in State Budget

Dan Florida, Legislative

The 2022 Florida Legislative Session wrapped up last week when lawmakers passed the $112.1 billion budget for next fiscal year. Looking at some of the ways that relates to agriculture, in her final legislative report for the session Mary Ann Hooks, director of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Government Affairs, noted they did exceptionally well and they are thrilled to …

consumers

Consumers Prefer Florida OJ

Dan Citrus, Orange Juice

Consumers are more likely to buy orange juice (OJ) if they think the fruit comes from Florida, new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research shows. In fact, top reasons consumers purchase OJ include taste, health benefits and origin of the fruit.  According to the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), while 80% of OJ consumers who responded to …

agriculture

Increasing Agriculture Literacy

Dan Citrus, Education

Agriculture is the second largest industry in Florida, but there is uncertainty about the industry’s labor force, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently reported. UF/IFAS stated that the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates the market value of Florida agriculture at more than $7.46 billion. “But career interest from youth does not match the size …

panhandle

Panhandle Growers Experience Scales

Dan Citrus

Many citrus growers in Florida’s panhandle were experiencing high populations of scales early this year, particularly Florida red scale and false Florida red scale, Jefferson County Extension agent Danielle Sprague announced in a recent issue of the Cold Hardy Citrus Connection newsletter. The newsletter is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension publication. Sprague pointed …

agriculture workers

UF/IFAS, FDACS seek help in spreading the word on COVID-19 testing to Florida agricultural workers

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration

(UF/IFAS) — The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension (UF/IFAS) and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) encourage as many agricultural workers as possible to be tested for COVID-19.  Farmworkers will have access to numerous no-cost COVID-19 testing events in some of Florida’s top agricultural counties. Below is a list of upcoming sites. Support for …

gulf coast turfgrass

Gulf Coast Turfgrass Field Day & Expo

Dan Florida

The 23rd Annual Gulf Coast Turfgrass Expo & Field Day will be held Thursday, July 27th at the West Florida Research & Education Center in Jay, Florida. The Gulf Coast Turfgrass Field Day & Expo has become one of the greatest educational events in the Panhandle, hosted by the University of Florida, IFAS, and the Gulf Coast Golf Course Superintendents …

Researchers Hope to Help Find Sites to Grow Tomorrow’s Produce

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Vegetables

by Brad Buck, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida researchers are sounding a warning bell that fresh produce may be hard to come by in the future. Scientists with the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences cite changes in our climate, loss of fresh water and competition for resources as major threats to farmers’ …

Hydroponics to Improve Yield, Minimize Water Use

Dan Florida, Research, Water

Hydroponic growing systems are a means for growers to potentially improve yield, says Dr. Davie Kadyampakeni, an assistant professor at the Citrus Research and Education Center at the University of Florida. These systems are a way for farmers to grow crops without soil by using water and a nutrient solution. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Alternative Farming Systems Information Center …

watermelon

Do You Love Watermelon in the Hot Summer? University of Florida scientists are on the case

Dan Florida, Fruits, Research

by Brad Buck, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Some people love to eat a juicy, seedless watermelon for a tasty, refreshing snack during a hot, Florida summer day. University of Florida scientists have found a way to stave off potential diseases while retaining that flavor. Consumers increasingly savor the convenience and taste of seedless watermelons, said Xin …

childhood obesity

UF, Rutgers, WVU to Help Combat Childhood Obesity

Dan Education, Florida, Research

by Brad Buck, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Parents serve as their children’s role models, and they buy most of the food their children eat. With that in mind, researchers from the University of Florida, Rutgers University, and West Virginia University will work with a five-year, $4 million grant to try to change home eating habits to …