Selected UAV Options for Agricultural Imaging and Mapping Applications under Florida’s UAS Regulations

Liyike Ji, Xu Wang, and Wael Elwakil.

Florida governmental agencies must utilize drones only from approved manufacturers meeting the appropriate risk assessment requirements. This report provides a brief review of Florida’s UAS regulations and presents compliant drone equipment, focusing on imaging and mapping applications. It aims to assist agricultural professionals in selecting a UAV that best meets their operational needs.

Up in the Air and Down in the Water: Connections Between Air and Water Quality in Florida’s Tampa Bay

Mary G. Lusk and Tanya Charan.

The Up in the Air, Down in the Water program is a combined research and education effort of the Urban Water Cycle Lab at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Hillsborough County, Florida. This publication addresses nitrogen (N) in atmospheric deposition that falls within the Tampa Bay watershed. The purpose of this fact sheet is to explain where the N in atmospheric deposition comes from, how it moves to Earth’s surface, how it can affect water quality, and how we can better manage atmospherically derived N in our watersheds. This publication is intended for residents and decision-makers.

How AI Can Analyze Images: An Introductory Case Study Using Mushroom Detection

Namrata Dutt and Daeun Choi.

This article provides an introductory overview of how computers analyze images using artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision. To illustrate the concepts, the publication uses mushrooms as an example case for object detection. Although mushroom detection is used for demonstration, the goal of this article is to help readers understand how AI-based image analysis supports broader agricultural and environmental applications.

Foliar Leaf Spots of Viburnum during Nursery Production in Florida: Research and Fungicide Efficacies

Shawn Steed, Wael Elwakil, Marissa Cassaway, and Gary Vallad.

Viburnum sp. is an important woody ornamental crop for nursery growers in Florida. Around 2014, growers indicated that common labeled fungicides targeting downy mildew failed to provide acceptable levels of disease management. Through a research grant from the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, UF/IFAS researchers and UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County agents conducted studies to determine fungicide efficacy of oomycete fungicides to help nursery professionals produce and maintain a healthy viburnum crop.

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