Category: Crops

Citrus grove. UF/IFAS Photo: Thomas Wright.

What’s New on Ask IFAS: UF/IFAS Citrus REC (Nov.–Dec.)

by Amanda Quintos
January 8, 2026

Blood Oranges in Florida: Facts, Challenges, and Considerations Fariborz Habibi, Ali Sarkhosh, Frederick G. Gmitter, and Jeffrey K. Brecht. This publication explores the potential for blood orange cultivation in Florida and discusses the ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Pests & Disease
Tags: Blood Oranges, Citrus Cultural Practices, Citrus Research And Education Center, Cover Crops, Horticultural Sciences, Postharvest And Handling, Soil Microbes, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is a genus of flowering plants.

Pivotal study unlocks secrets of the invasive short-spined thrips

by Lourdes Mederos
January 6, 2026

Highlights Short-spined thrips are devastating ornamentals and crops worldwide, thriving in South Florida’s warm climate and spreading fast. In a novel study, UF/IFAS researchers mapped the pest’s biology life cycle, reproduction ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, , Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Acarology, Alexandra Revynthi, Beans, Beneficial, Beneficial Bugs, Beneficial Nematodes, Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Eggplants, Entomology And Nematology, Gardenias, Gardens, Growers, Hibiscus, Homeowners, Integrated Pes Management, Invasive, Invasive Insect, IPM, Mandevillas, Nematodes, News, Nurseries, Ornamental, Ornamental Entomology, Ornamental Plants, Peppers, Plant Pathology, Sanitation, Sanitation Practices, Short-spined Thrips, Thrips, Thrips Parvispinus, Tropical Research And Education Center, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida
Florida with magnifying glass and insect

January 2026 First Friday with Florida First Detector

by Morgan Pinkerton
January 5, 2026

Recap of January 2026 First Friday with Florida First Detector In this month, we explored the fascinating, and sometimes frustrating, world of plant pathogens. Simply put, a pathogen is any organism that causes disease. For plants, these culprits ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Bacteria, Early Detection, Eradication, FFD25-26, FloridaFirstDetector, Fungi, Invasive Species, SeminoleCountyAg, Virus

Dr. Gerardo Nunez Named to Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under Forty Class of 2025

by Eva Sailly
December 16, 2025

Dr. Gerardo Nunez, Assistant Professor of Horticultural Sciences, has been named to the Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under Forty Class of 2025, a national recognition honoring emerging leaders who are making meaningful contributions to the specialty ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Award, Blueberry, Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under Forty, Gerardo Nunez, Horticultural Sciences, Nunez Lab, Plant Breeding, Small Fruit Horticulture Lab, Teaching, UF/IFAS CALS
A row of cover crops grows in between two rows of citrus trees.

Cover Crops Can Get Young Citrus Trees Off To A Good Start

by Mike Loizzo
December 16, 2025

Florida citrus growers continue to battle declining yields, citrus greening disease, and increasingly nutrient-poor soils. As a result, they are taking a closer look at soil-building practices such as cover crops. But how and when the cover ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Citrus, Gabriel Maltais-Landry, HLB, Huanglongbing, Sarah Strauss, Soil Fertility, Soil Health, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Yaslin Gonzalez
Caution sign in field

Sandspurs…Sandburs…Cenchrus spp.

by Lisa Strange
December 11, 2025

What Are Sandspurs? Where in the world are all these little spurs coming from? Although it’s often considered a nuisance, this annual grass that commonly grows in sandy, undisturbed areas throughout much of the United States, does have some ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Lawn, Livestock, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: #TaylorCounty, Horticulture, Lawns, Pasture, Sandspurs, UF/IFAS Extension
Florida with magnifying glass and insect

December 2025 First Friday with Florida First Detector

by Morgan Pinkerton
December 8, 2025

Recap of December 2025 First Friday with Florida First Detector This month, we dove into the topic of invasive mites, specifically focusing on the ones that can damage plants. These tiny arachnids are everywhere: on plants, animals, humans, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Biosecurity, Early Detection, Eradication, FFD25-26, FloridaFirstDetector, Mites, SeminoleCountyAg

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