The farm bill has passed through the House and the Senate and received President Trump’s signature on Dec. 20. While some agricultural industries were let down, other industries may have an opportunity to thrive. According to Jerry Fankhauser, assistant director of the University of Florida’s Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the farm bill includes language that will take industrial hemp off …
Payne Reflects on Achievements from 2018; Looks Forward to 2019
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As 2018 gives way to 2019, the senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida (UF) looks back with pride at the progress made by the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) and predicts continued momentum for the coming year. “We have labs, fields and greenhouses in every corner of …
He Grew Up in 4-H, Now Brown Honored as ‘Friend of IFAS’
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Raised on a family farm in Orange Heights, Florida, Reggie Brown recalls taking his chickens to the Gainesville town square for a 4-H contest when he was about 9 or 10. “I won the blue ribbon. I was real proud,” Brown said. As a child, Brown immersed himself in such Florida 4-H projects. For another project, he …
Feast on Florida-Grown Foods This Thanksgiving
As we sit down to dine during the annual Thanksgiving feast, it’s worth noting that much of what we eat comes from Florida farmers, say University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers. Better still, scientists with UF/IFAS try to see if they can breed and grow certain crops in Florida to help growers and consumers. When …
SmartIrrigation Technology Improves Tomato Production
By Ibukun T. Ayankojo and Kelly T. Morgan Fresh tomato production in the United States is dominated by the states of California and Florida. Florida harvests about 28,000 acres of tomatoes with a production value of $382 million. This accounts for approximately 40 percent of the total production value in the United States. IRRIGATION ACCURACY IS CRITICAL Vegetable production requires …
What Exactly Causes Toxic Algae?
By Lisa Krimsky Florida has an algae problem, and we’re not alone. The population on this planet is growing, as is the need to feed and house 7.6 billion people. Algae blooms are naturally occurring. However, a warming climate, human activities and nutrient inputs from stormwater, agricultural and urban land use, and sewer and septic systems have significantly increased the …
UF Student Helps Design Corn Maze at Local Farm
Farmers and ranchers across Florida are fighting lack of consumer education on food systems by opening their properties to the public in a practice called agritourism. Agritourism allows non-farming folks to learn about the day-to-day operations of a working farm and see first-hand where their food comes from. One such farm is the Single R Ranch in Plant City, Florida. …
Hydrogels as Herbicide Carriers in Vegetable Plasticulture
By Ramdas Kanissery and Camille McAvoy Weed management is a fundamental step in the successful production of vegetable crops in Florida under commercial plasticulture production systems. Soil fumigation was one of the most successful means of reducing weed populations. None of the alternatives to methyl bromide have a broad spectrum of activity against weeds. This necessitates the need for a …
Panhandle Beekeepers Work to Save Hives after Hurricane Michael
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Hurricane Michael significantly impacted the beekeeping industry in the Florida Panhandle. This area is home to about 500 registered beekeepers and nearly 50,000 colonies, which amounts to more than 1.2 billion bees. These colonies are vital to Florida agriculture because the bees provide pollination services to many of the state’s crops. Beekeepers in the Florida Panhandle are …
UF Industrial Hemp Program Promotes Industrial Partnerships to Grow
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida’s pilot research program to explore the potential to grow industrial hemp across the state is advancing, with the engagement of an inaugural private partner. The initiative was supported and encouraged by the state but was not appropriated any funding. To move forward, the project needs sponsorships from private industry. Green Roads Inc. has …