Category: Crops

Nov. 5: UF’s palm tree team brings science, solutions to South Florida at Palm Short Course in Davie and online

by Lourdes Mederos
October 28, 2025

Florida’s palm trees don’t just define the Sunshine State’s skylines. They are a cornerstone of the state’s environment and economy. Yet, pests, diseases and nutrient issues can make it tough to keep the many varieties healthy. To ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Conservation, Crops, EVENTS, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Arborists, Conservation, Entomology And Nematology, Environmental Horticulture, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Growers, Horticultural Sciences, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Mica McMillan, News, Nutrients, Palm, Palm Disease, Palm Tree Short Course, Property Managers, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida

Can Robigus be the new crop guardian? This app tracks plant diseases globally

by Lourdes Mederos
September 8, 2025

Named after the Roman god who once guarded wheat fields from blight, Robigus is the newest tech ally in the fight against plant diseases. Developed by a scientist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agriculture, App, Braham Dhillon, Cavendish Bananas, Crops, Disease Outbreaks, Farms, Fields, First Reports, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Fruit, Fungal Pathogen, Gardeners, Global, HiPerGator, Homeowners, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Molecular Plant Pathologist, News, Nursery, Palms, Plant Disease, Plant Pathology, Plants, Robigus, Roman God, Scientists, Tropical Race 4 Of Fusarium, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Supercomputer, Vegetable

From Peru’s wild landscapes to Florida’s farms: Scientist harnesses microbes to protect agriculture, environment

by Lourdes Mederos
August 17, 2025

For Florida growers, Jose Rolando’s research is focused on promoting healthier soils, reduced input costs and crops able to withstand droughts, heat and shifting weather patterns. For consumers, it aims at more sustainable food production ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, , Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Amazon Rainforest, Andes Mountains, Coastal Wetland, Crops, Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, Droughts, Ecosystem Services, Farmer, Fertilizer, Florida Bay, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Georgia Institute Of Technology, Grower, IFAS, Indian River Lagoon, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, José Rolando, Lima, Lourdes Mederos, Mangroves, Microbiologist, Microbiology, National Institute Of Agricultural Innovation, News, Peru, Public, Sea Level Rise, Sechura Desert, Sustainable Food Production, Tropical Zones, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, Weather

Back by popular demand: UF/IFAS Extension offers 2025 Sustainable Urban Food Production Short Course

by Lourdes Mederos
August 13, 2025

From backyard gardens to commercial-scale rooftop farms, sustainable urban food production is reshaping how we grow and access food in cities. That’s why leading scientists from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, , Conservation, Crops, EVENTS, Farm Management, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Aquaponics, Broward, Chefs, Compost, Eco-friendly, Ecofrendly Farming, Entrepreneurs, Environmental Horticulture, Food, Food Forest, Food Handling, Food Safety, Food Waste, Garderners, Harvest, Hydroponic, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jiangxiao Qiu, Large-scale Composting, Local Food Movement, Lorna Bravo, Management Strategies, Miami Dade, Monroe, News, Nutrient-rich Soil, Organic Fruit, Palm Beach, Rooftop Farms, Rooftop Gardens, Soil Regeneration, Sustainable Agricultural, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida, Urban Agriculture, Urban Food Production, Vegetables

Scorching temps from California turf raises questions about artificial turf, xeriscaping in humid states like Florida

by Lourdes Mederos
July 30, 2025

While artificial turf and rock-heavy xeriscapes are marketed as low-maintenance, drought-resistant alternatives to traditional lawns, research by University of Florida scientists shows it comes at unexpected environmental and public safety ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, SFYL Hot Topic, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Artificial Turf, Drought, Drought-resistant, Enrvironmental Horticulture, Environmental Costs, Florida Law, Florida-friendly Landscaping, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Heat, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Marco Schiavon, Natural Turf, News, Public Safety, Rock-heavy Xeriscape, Surface Temperatures, Synthetic Turf, Traditional Lawns, Turfgrass Science, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, Weeds

From itchy bites to asthma triggers: Why one scientist studies what’s bugging us

by Lourdes Mederos
July 14, 2025

From bed bugs in bedrooms and cockroaches in kitchens to the latest invasive pests spreading into new communities, the uninvited guests that sneak into our homes are more than just nuisances—they can be public health threats, economic ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, Disaster Preparation, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Work & Life
Tags: Allergenic Proteins, Allergens, Bd Bugs, Bites, Bugs, Cockroaches, Data-driven, Entomology, Extension Outreach, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Health Risk, Histamine, Homes, Households, Human Immune Response, Insects, Invasive Pests, Johnalyn Gordon, Lourdes Mederos, Pest-management Solutions, Pests, Species, Structural Pests, Threats, Tropical Climate, Urban Pests

Have a passion for plants but lack a green thumb? Dig into the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Management Certificate Program

by Lourdes Mederos
December 5, 2024

Consumers are digging into gardening now more than ever. Several factors account for the increasing popularity, including growing food, relaxation, therapy and sprucing up your green areas and patios, according to a survey by the National ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Blog Community, Conservation, Crops, EVENTS, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Accessibility, Air-layering Plants, Certified Horticulture Professional, Environmental Horticulture, Environmental Horticulture Department, Environmental Horticulture Management Certificate, Fertilizers, Florida Nursery, Florida Nursery Growers And Landscape Association, FNGLA, Food, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Gardens, Green Areas, Growers, Horticulture, Horticulture Department, Horticulture Therapy, Industry, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Native Plant Habitats, News, School Gardens, Training, UF/IFAS, Water Conservation

Seeding the future: UF/IFAS and Florida Sea Grant secure $250K NOAA grant to cultivate seaweed aquaculture in Florida

by Lourdes Mederos
November 12, 2024

Atlantic subtropical seaweed is making waves among scientists who are exploring its potential for economic and environmental benefits for the Sunshine State. The University of Florida and Florida Sea Grant have secured a $250,000 grant from ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: And Ecosystem Sciences, Angela Collins, Aquaculture, Aquaculture Farming, Aquaculture In Florida, Ashley Smyth, Business, Climate Change, Cultivation Of Seaweed, Dail Laughinghouse, Enterprise, Extension, Farmable Products, Florida Sea Grant, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Grant, Kelp, NOAA, Nori, Seaweed Farming, Soil, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Subtropical Seaweed, Tropical Research And Education Center, Tropical Seaweed, UF/IFAS, Water

Looking to build a citywide compost program? Policy makers, others invited to UF/IFAS Compost Consortium on March 27

by Lourdes Mederos
March 6, 2024

Federal agencies are investing millions of dollars to support innovative compost plans and programs that divert food waste from landfills. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is leading the charge ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Climate Change, Compost, Compost Business, Compost Consortium, Economic Development, Environmental Impacts, Florida Composting Council, FLREC, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, IFAS, Landfills, Liz Felter, Mica McMillan, Sustainability, Sustainable, Sustainable Recycling, UF, UF News, UF/IFAS Compost Consortium, UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research And Education Center, Usda

UF/IFAS study offers critical insights to encourage sustainable agriculture, protect Florida grasslands, wetlands

by Lourdes Mederos
January 31, 2024

The term ‘sustainable agriculture’ involves boosting food production while conserving habitats and natural resources and reducing reliance on pesticides and fertilizers. While experts agree there is still much to learn to support ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Forests, Livestock, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Agroecology, Archbold Biological Station Buck Island Ranch, Climate Change, Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, Ecosystem Services, Everglades, FLREC, Food Insecurity, Food Security, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Grasslands, Jiangxiao Qiu, Ranch, Sustainable Agricultural, Sustainable Agricultural Intensification, Sustainable Agriculture, Wetlands, Yuxi Guo

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