By Breanna Kendrick Nursery personnel have learned from past hurricanes that preparedness is essential to storm recovery. Thomas Yeager, professor in the environmental horticulture department at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), recently spoke about nursery recovery. He presented at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Southeast Climate Hub and UF workshop called “Building Agricultural Resilience …
UF Researchers to Breed a New Variety of Florida-Friendly Hops
APOPKA, Fla. – Researchers with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have been awarded a two-year grant for $194,000 to breed varieties of hops that can grow in Florida. The researchers, based at the UF/IFAS Mid Florida Research and Education Center (MFREC) in Apopka, Florida, said the grant will help continue their work to bring …
UF ‘Plant Whisperer’ Helps Floridians Keep Produce Lush, Green and Safe
APOPKA, Fla. – Liz Felter gazes at the tomato plant and considers it quietly for a few seconds. Stroking the discolored leaves, she sticks two fingers in the soil and pushes the dirt down. “My gut tells me it’s not Erwinia,” says Felter, a University of Florida IFAS Extension regional specialized agent. The visitor to the UF/IFAS Diagnostic Plant Clinic …
Florida Hop Production Appears Promising
Findings from the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center hop trials are helping make strides in this new frontier. By Zhanao Deng, Shinsuke Agehara, Gary Vallad, Hugh Smith and Johan Desaeger Hops are an essential ingredient of beer. Breweries use different varieties and amounts of hops during the brewing process to attain the desirable levels of bitterness and flavors associated …
Farm Bill Helps Pave Way for Hemp Production
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 …