Category: Agribusiness

Cacao pods on tree.

Alumni Spotlight: Breeding Climate-Resilient Cacao for Mars

by Eva Sailly
October 15, 2025

Dr. Ashley DuVal, an alumna of UF/IFAS with a Ph.D. in Horticultural Sciences, has built a career devoted to ensuring that chocolate has a sustainable future. Now a Senior Scientist and cacao breeder with Mars Wrigley, Dr. DuVal works ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Forests, Horticulture, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Agroforestry, Alumni, Alumni-feature, Cacao, Climate Resilience, Food Science, Horticultural Sciences, Mars, Plant Breeding, Sustainable Food Systems, Teaching
A top view of a sea sponge in water.

EPA grant to help UF/IFAS scientists restore sea sponges, improve water quality in South Florida

by Lourdes Mederos
October 15, 2025

Hidden beneath South Florida’s waves, sponges quietly clean the waters by filtering out nutrients, supporting seagrass and sustaining the region’s vibrant marine life. But after years of environmental stress and water quality decline, ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Crops, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Algae, Ana Zangroniz, Aquaculture, Ashley Smyth, Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Bacteria, Biscayne Bay, Biscayne Bay Pilot Nursery, Biscayne National Park, Classifications, Coastal, Coastal Environments, Coastal Habitat, Coastal Health, Cycle Nutrients, Ecosystem, Ecosystem Services, Filter, Florida Keys Aquaculture Research, Florida Sea Grant, Genetic Advances, Habitat, Harmful Algal Blooms, Lower Keys, Marine, Marine Life, National Park Service, Nature’s Water Filters, Organisms, Restore Ecological Services, Restore Sponge Populations, Sea Sponge, Seagrass, Shelly Krueger, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, South Florida, Southeast Florida, Sponge Restoration Aquaculture, Sponge Restoration Species, Tropical Research And Education Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, UF/IFAS Extension Monroe County, UF/IFAS Researchers, Viruses, Water Clarity, Water Quality, Water Quality Benefits
A gardener planting flowers in garden bed.

Grow local, join UF/IFAS Extension Broward County Master Gardener Volunteer Program Open House on Nov. 15

by Lourdes Mederos
October 14, 2025

Whether you are a seasoned green thumb or just beginning to dig into the seeds of gardening, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has the perfect way to cultivate that passion. Mark your calendars ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Conservation, Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Environmental Horticulture, Extension Broward Master Gardener Volunteer Program, Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program, Garden, Green Thumb, Horticultural Sciences, Horticulture, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, News, Open House, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Broward County, UF/IFAS Urban Horticulture Broward, Urban Horticulture

Florida Calves in the Feedlot: What Extension Agents Learned in West Texas

by hbaker
October 8, 2025

The South Florida Beef Forage Program (SFBFP) is a group of livestock Extension agents that facilitate numerous programs throughout the year for cattle producers. Many of these programs focus on teaching the practical and economic importance ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Farm Management, Livestock, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Beef Cattle, Beef Cattle Management, Beef Cattle Market, Hannah Baker, Range Cattle REC, SFBF, SV Ag Update
St. Lucie AgXtension vendors.

New Date: UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie Ag-Xtension Fall Festival moved to Nov. 15

by Lourdes Mederos
October 7, 2025

Due to forecasts of inclement weather this weekend, the UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie Ag-Xtension Fall Festival originally scheduled for Oct. 11 has been postponed to Nov. 15. Bring your families and friends to celebrate the season in cooler ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Clubs & Volunteers, Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: 4-H, 4-H Clubs, 4-H Extension St. Lucie, Ag-Xtension Fall Festival, Booths, Butterfly Garden, Everglades Equipment Group, Fall, Farm, Festival, Florida 4-H, Fort Pierce Utilities Authority, Gardening, Grantly Ricketts, Hayrides, Nature Trail, News, Open House, Plant Sale, Pony Rides, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Department, St. Lucie County Transportation & Planning, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County Master Gardener Volunteer Program, University Of Florida, Workshops
Avocado fruit showing characteristic avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd) symptoms. The fruit displays a distinct longitudinal yellow streak with sharply demarcated margins, typical of sunblotch infection. Symptoms can vary but often include irregular yellow or whitish streaks, discoloration, and deformed fruit.

Los aguacates de Florida se enfrentan a la amenaza del viroide del manchado solar

by Luz Bahder
October 6, 2025

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Los aguacates de Florida, un alimento básico en las cocinas, un árbol frutal muy apreciado en los jardines y un ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agricultores, Aguacate, Aguacateros, Arboles, ASBVd, Crecimiento, Danos, Deformación De Los Frutos, Disminución En La Producción, Ecursos Informativos, Enanismo, Enfermedad, Español, Esquejes, Expansion, Frutos, Industria Del Aguacate, Infectados, Injertos, Jonathan Crane, Mancha Solar, Manchado Solar, Manchado Solar Del Aguacate, Manchas, Medidas Preventivas, Palta, Plantación, Plantaciones, Polen, Productores´, Pruebas Diagnosticas, Rayas, Romina Gazis, Semillas, Sintomas, Spanish, TREC, UF-IFAS, Viroide
A youth is given instruction on roping technique.

Oct. 25 AgVenture Fest offers family fun, farming discovery with UF/IFAS Extension Indian River County

by Lourdes Mederos
October 1, 2025

Families are invited to discover the exciting world of local agriculture at the inaugural Indian River County AgVenture Fest, hosted by UF/IFAS Extension Indian River County. The event will take place on Oct. 25, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Events, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Agricultural Commodities, Agriculture, AgVenture Fest, Andrea Lazzari, Indian River County Extension, Indian River County Fairgrounds Livestock Pavilion, Indian River County Farm Bureau, News, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida

Lower Temperatures & Higher Calf Prices

by hbaker
September 30, 2025

Preparing for Fall, Dormant Forages, & Drought Fall is officially here! At the time of writing this in late September, temperatures are starting to cool off in the mornings and evenings as we head into the fall months. With this means that ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Farm Management, Livestock
Tags: Beef Cattle, Beef Cattle Management, Beef Cattle Market, Forages, Hannah Baker, Range Cattle REC, SV Ag Update

Subscribe For More Great Content

IFAS Blogs Categories