A $1.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation includes funding for student fellowships. Faculty from the University of Florida and Florida A&M University (FAMU) will train a diverse workforce for potential careers in artificial intelligence (AI). The UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and FAMU will collaborate to recruit and retain traditionally underrepresented students in AI-related education and …
Tomato Research: UF Scientist Hoping to Improve Crop’s Production, Size
Florida growers yielded 606 million pounds of fresh-market tomatoes and $463 million of revenue last year. That is tremendous success, though competition from Mexico continues to put pressure on the state’s producers. That’s why University of Florida scientist Tong Geon Lee spends most of his research time in the lab and fields looking for the right combination of genes. He …
So Far So Good: Grapefruit Yielding Well in UF/IFAS CUPS Research
By Clint Thompson An innovative way to manage huanglongbing (HLB) disease is producing impressive results in University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research. According to Arnold Schumann, UF/IFAS professor at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), citrus under protective screen (CUPS) production systems have increased yields with zero effect from HLB. He shared research results …
UF/IFAS Studying Phosphorous in Tomatoes, Potatoes
By Clint Thompson A renewed focus on phosphorous recommendations by University of Florida/IFAS researchers should help producers be more efficient with their fertilizer applications and reduce its impact on the environment. That’s the goal, says Kelly Morgan, professor and center director at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee, Florida. “Phosphorous is becoming the largest issue as far …
New UF/IFAS Dean of Extension: Andra Johnson Named to Position
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Andra Johnson, associate director of Penn State Extension, will be the next dean of UF/IFAS Extension and director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Johnson will assume the role on Nov. 1. Johnson will lead UF/IFAS’ statewide network of more than 650 faculty educators and scientists, whose programs and expertise support economic, environmental and community health. These …
UF Invention of the Year: AI Technology ‘Agroview’ Recognized
Yiannis Ampatzidis and his research team at the University of Florida/IFAS found artificial intelligence technology that helps farmers save money and better care for their crops. Out of that process, they invented a system known as Agroview. It captured the eye of UF Innovate | Tech Licensing, which recognized the technology as a UF Invention of the Year. “I am …
UF Specialist: Hemp Research to Take Time
By Clint Thompson Florida hemp research is still in its infancy, but progress has been made, insists Jerry Fankhauser, the assistant director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station who oversees the University of Florida hemp research program. “There’s a lot to learn, but we’ve come a long way in just two years,” Fankhauser said. “I think where we’re at right …
Career of Excellence: UF Professor Honored
LAKE ALFRED, Fla. — Fred G. Gmitter, Jr., a professor of horticulture and citrus breeder at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Research and Education Center, is a 2021 Fellow by the American Society for Horticultural Science. More than 500 members have been recognized with this honor since the first Fellows were elected in 1965. …
Artificial Intelligence: UF Scientists Use AI to Predict Citrus Yield More Accurately
IMMOKALEE, Fla. – The implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) helps citrus growers better forecast their production. So far, they’ve found in a University of Florida preliminary study, its technology predicts yields with 98% accuracy. That’s a substantial increase from the 75% to 85% accuracy growers get when they count their trees manually, said Yiannis Ampatzidis, a UF/IFAS associate professor of …
Weed Identification: Identify Pests with New Tool From UF/IFAS
Proper weed identification is key in eradicating it from the landscape or a field. University of Florida/IFAS has developed a set of resources for homeowners and vegetable growers to follow to avoid misidentification. “If you don’t take the time to identify the weed first, often times you may treat it incorrectly,” said Chris Marble, associate professor of environmental horticulture at …