Category: Agriculture

Small corn plant growing in dry cracked soil

Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage Restrictions Extended Through October 1

by Mike D'Imperio
June 29, 2026

Last week, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) voted to extend the current Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage Restrictions through October 1, 2026.Before officials enacted these restrictions earlier this year, we had ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Turf, Water, Work & Life
Tags: Drought, Landscape, Water

From Colonial Roots to 250 Years: Florida’s heritage cattle offer lessons for the state’s agricultural past, present and future

by Jamie Groh
June 29, 2026

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, a small, rugged breed of cattle roaming Florida’s pastures is helping tell a much longer American story, one that predates the nation itself and may offer insight into the future of agriculture.  Heritage ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Livestock, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Agricultural Heritage USA, American Ranching History, Cattle Conservation, Climate Resilient Livestock, Featured, Florida Agriculture, Florida Cracker Cattle, Florida Farming, Florida Ranching, Heritage Cattle, Historic Cattle Breeds, Livestock Sustainability, Paynes Prairie Cattle, Pineywoods Cattle, Ranching Practices, Rotational Grazing, Scrub Cattle, Spanish Livestock History, St Johns County Agriculture, St. John's County, Sustainable Agriculture, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension

Got Compost? Meet the Black Soldier Fly.

by Evan Anderson
June 26, 2026

The goal of a good compost pile is to turn dead plant material into humus, the black or brown material that is formed when organic matter is decomposed. Many organisms play a part in breaking down this organic matter, from microscopic bacteria, ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Tags: Beneficial Insects, Black Soldier Fly., Compost, Composting, Insects, Panhandle Gardening, Soldier Fly

Double Trouble in the Melon Patch: Squash Bugs and Cucurbit Yellow Vine Disease

by Doug Mayo
June 25, 2026

Authors:  Sanju Kunwar, Xavier Martini, Nick Dufault, Bob Hochmuth, Carrie Harmon, Jeff Jones, Mark Warren, Elizabeth Cannon, Tatiana Sanchez-Jones, Emily Beach and Kiersten Fullem, UF/IFAS Extension Specialists and County Agents If you are ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Horticulture, Pests & Disease
Tags: Cucurbit Yellow Vine Disease, Panhandle Agriculture, Squash Bugs, SV Ag Update
Three magnified images of a gallinipper mosquito (Psorophora ciliata), a large floodwater mosquito common in Florida after heavy rains. The insect has a dark body, long legs with pale bands, and clear wings

When the Rain Brings the Giants

by margaretstewart
June 24, 2026

After the heavy rain in Northwest Florida, many people have noticed large mosquitoes called gallinippers. Psorophora ciliata often seems to appear all at once after storms or flooding. These mosquitoes are a normal part of Florida’s environment. ... READ MORE

Category: Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, , Water
Tags: Flooding, Floodwater Mosquitoes, Florida Panhandle, Gallinippers, Havy Rainfall, Insect Pest, Integrated Pest Management, IPM, Larvicides, Mosquito Control, Mosquito Prevention, Mosquitoes, Northwest Florida, Psorophora Ciliata, Public Health Pests, Standing Water, Summer Pests, UF/IFAS Extension
Red Amaranth microgreens

The Microbiology of Microgreens: Unearthing the Nutrition, Benefits and Science

by Dana Saunders
June 24, 2026

Quick answer Microgreens are young vegetable greens harvested shortly after germination when nutrient density and phytochemical production are especially high. Research has shown some microgreens contain significantly higher concentrations ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture,
People shopping for plants at the 2025 UF/IFAS Native Plant Sale. (Suzette Cook/SFFGS)

Native Plant Sale returns to UF with hundreds of species available

by Wes Wolfe
June 23, 2026

You’re probably going to want to get there early — nothing gets the heart of campus jumping during the summer heat quite like the annual UF/IFAS Native Plant Sale. "We anticipate the highest demand will be for native milkweeds and ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Events, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Native Species, Scholarships And Funding, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, SFFGS, Trees, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildflowers

Apicultura en Florida: Video Informativo Sobre Leyes y Regulaciones Apícolas

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
June 19, 2026

La apicultura es fundamental para la agricultura de Florida, ya que contribuye a la polinización de muchos cultivos importantes dentro del sistema agrícola del estado. Para garantizar una apicultura sana y eficiente, el estado exige a los ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Farm Management, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Beekeeping, Beekeeping Laws, Beekeeping Regulations, En Espanol, Español, Honeybees, Polk Small Farms, Small Farms, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

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