DOn Wednesday I visited with faculty around Gainesville in Agronomy to learn more about their facilities successes and challenges. I’ve been doing this since I began at IFAS and not only do I get a sense of the facility issues, it really helps me know more about what kinds of research they do.

A few highlights:

Did you know we have this spectacular database about invasive plants?

Agronomy has growth chambers, greenhouses, labs, fields, teaching farm space, and lots of offices/work stations all in Gainesville, and of course research around the state in Ona, Marianna, Live Oak, and more.

What I did not know before the tour:

1. IFAS has several researchers across disciplines doing research in the Cancer and Genetics building (near Mowry Road and Gale Lemerand); not only Agronomy but also Forestry, Animal Sciences, and Microbiology all working on genetics. They even have a rooftop greenhouse!
2. The Agronomy Weed Science program is in a building I have driven by hundreds of times on my way to the UF Southwest Recreation Center.
3. Next to the Bartram apartments across Archer Road we have more research. It was a pleasure to see two retired faculty there working! (Shout out to Dr. Quesenberry and Dr. Boote).

I’m working on figuring out next steps for improving facilities, but Wednesday was very helpful!

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