A field of squash, with leaves and blossoms.

Sustainable Agriculture Grants and Reports for Producers

by Yvette Goodiel
November 7, 2025

The Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) program provides technical and financial resources for growers nationwide, including here in Martin County. A few years ago, I was able to meet a couple of producers who made good use ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Farm Management, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Commercial Horticulture Digest, Martin County, Small Farms, Smallfarms, Small_farms, UF/IFAS Extension
a brassica leaf is being turned over to reveal an armyworm mid instar, which is a dark colored caterpillar

The benefits of an early start in scouting vegetable crops

by Yvette Goodiel
October 30, 2025

Vegetable production season brings a bounty of food for us and, unfortunately, also for crop pests. Thankfully, many naturally occurring beneficial insects, fungi, nematodes, wildlife, and other organisms (AKA beneficials) find their food forest ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Commercial Horticulture Digest, Insects, IPM, Martin County, Small Farms, UF/IFAS Extension
Interpretive sign for the stormwater pond parcel at the Ripple project.

Profiles of FFL in Martin County: Ripple Stormwater Eco-Art Project

by Yvette Goodiel and Vincent Encomio
July 28, 2025

Introduction Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM (FFL) promotes nine principles to protect water resources in designing and maintaining landscapes. The practices can be applied at scales ranging from individual yards to parks to communities. Landscapes ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, , Water, Wildlife
Tags: #IFASWater, Coastal Shoreline Restoration, Commercial Horticulture Digest, Florida Friendly Landscaping, Florida Sea Grant, Green Industry, Indian River Lagoon, Martin County, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
A frog sits partially submerged in the water among duckweed.

Frogs add song to the rainy season

by Yvette Goodiel
July 2, 2025

When you think of frogs, what comes to mind? Maybe you think of the way their calls ring out when rain is on the way. You may feel squeamish about them, or you may have encountered an invasive frog that you worry will harm your family dog. Most ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Commercial Horticulture Digest, Conservation, Environment, Florida Friendly Landscaping, Invasive Species, Martin County, UF/IFAS Extension
A few remaining orchids hang from a shadehouse.

Short-term Hurricane Preparation for Commercial Nurseries

by Yvette Goodiel
June 27, 2025

As our oceans warm, hurricanes are becoming more intense and slower-moving, resulting in greater potential damage from heavy winds and flooding. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Southeast Climate Hub developed a series of guides specifically ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Disaster Preparation, Farm Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Commercial Horticulture Digest, Disaster, Disaster Preparation, Green Industry, Hurricane, Hurricane Preparedness, Martin County, Safety, Storms, UF/IFAS Extension
flowers and leaves of beach dune sunflower bordering a neighborhood road

Profiles of FFL in Martin County: Rio Bioswale

by Yvette Goodiel
June 6, 2025

Introduction Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM (FFL) promotes nine principles to protect water resources in designing and maintaining landscapes. The practices can be applied at scales ranging from individual yards to parks to communities. Landscapes ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, , Water, Wildlife
Tags: #IFASWater, Agribusiness, Commercial Horticulture Digest, Conservation, Environment, Florida Friendly Landscaping, Green Industry, Horticulture, Indian River Lagoon, Martin County, Profiles Of FFL In Martin County, UF/IFAS Extension, Water Quality
Looking out across a field at a row of greenhouses.

Storm Resiliency for Florida Greenhouse Producers, Part 3: Managing Risk & Mitigating Impacts

by Yvette Goodiel, Paul Fisher, Bob Hochmuth, Ying Zhang and Christa Court
May 28, 2025

The information provided in this three-part series will be published in the future as an EDIS publication. Co-authors are: Yvette Goodiel, Paul Fisher, Robert C. Hochmuth, Ying Zhang, and Christa D. Court. Severe weather (e.g., severe storms, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Disaster Preparation, Farm Management, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Commercial Horticulture Digest, Disaster Preparation, Greenhouse Production, Greenhouse Storm Resiliency, Hurricane, Martin County, Protected Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension
Plastic greenhouse covering is torn and sensitive nursery plants are now exposed to sun and rain.

Storm Resiliency for Florida Greenhouse Producers, Part 2: Severe Weather-Related Impacts to Protected Agriculture

by Yvette Goodiel, Paul Fisher, Bob Hochmuth, Ying Zhang and Christa Court
May 28, 2025

The information provided in this three-part series will be published in the future as an EDIS publication. Co-authors are: Yvette Goodiel, Paul Fisher, Robert C. Hochmuth, Ying Zhang, and Christa D. Court. Severe weather (e.g., severe storms, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Disaster Preparation, Farm Management, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Commercial Horticulture Digest, Disaster Preparation, Greenhouse Production, Greenhouse Storm Resiliency, Hurricane, Martin County, Protected Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension
Greenhouse damage observed after a storm. Flood waters within and around structures. Plastic coverings torn by wind.

Storm Resiliency for Florida Greenhouse Producers, Part 1: Protected Agriculture Trends and Storm-Related Losses

by Yvette Goodiel, Paul Fisher, Bob Hochmuth, Ying Zhang and Christa Court
May 28, 2025

The information provided in this three-part series will be published in the future as an EDIS publication. Co-authors are: Yvette Goodiel, Paul Fisher, Robert C. Hochmuth, Ying Zhang, and Christa D. Court. Severe weather (e.g., severe storms, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Disaster Preparation, Farm Management, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Commercial Horticulture Digest, Disaster Preparation, Greenhouse Production, Greenhouse Storm Resiliency, Hurricane, Martin County, Protected Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension
Golden Gate community marker sits within the roadway median recognized as a Florida-Friendly Landscaping Gold project. The recognition flag is displayed.

Profiles of FFL in Martin County: Golden Gate Median

by Yvette Goodiel
May 8, 2025

Introduction Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM (FFL) promotes nine principles to protect water resources in designing and maintaining landscapes. The practices can be applied at scales ranging from individual yards to parks to communities. Landscapes ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS Extension, , Water
Tags: #IFASWater, Agribusiness, Commercial Horticulture Digest, Florida Friendly Landscaping, Green Industry, Horticulture, Martin County, Profiles Of FFL In Martin County, Soil Health, UF/IFAS Extension

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