Category: Pests & Disease

A view of several lettuce varities. Español: múltiples variedades de lechuga

On the edge of a breakthrough: UF/IFAS breeding disease-resistant lettuce for U.S. farms, kitchens


March 24, 2026

University of Florida scientists are closer to a breakthrough that could safeguard the nation’s lettuce supply.  Backed by a $500,000 federal grant, the team is working to develop disease-resistant lettuce varieties built to withstand ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, , Conservation, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Arizona, Bacterial Leaf Spot, Breeding, California, Cercospora Leaf Spot, Climates, Consumers, Crop, Cultivars, Economic Engine, Economy, Everglades Research And Education Center, Florida, Florida Economy, Freshness, German Sandoya, Harvest, Iceberg, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Leaf Lettuce, Lettuce, Lettuce Breeding, Lettuce Breeding Program, Market Demands, National Institute Of Food And Agriculture, News, Postharvest, Production, Public, Resistence, Romaine, Sandy Soils, Storage, Texture, Transportation, U.S. Department Of Agriculture, U.S. Department Of Agriculture National Institute Of Food And Agriculture, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Plant Breeding, USDA-NIFA, Varieties
A collage photo of crops that are impacted by the two-spot cotton leafhopper pest. From left to right, Florida commodities include cotton, tropical hibiscus, okra and eggplant.

Can two native wasps help regulate invasive leafhopper populations attacking Florida’s crops?


March 19, 2026

Most people retreat at the sight of a wasp, yet University of Florida researchers’ discovery of two newly identified tiny native wasps targeting an invasive pest that threatened Florida agriculture may be a hopeful sign for growers. In ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, , Conservation, Crops, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Acarology, Agriculture, Alexandra Revynthi, Anagrus Sp. Near Vulneratus, Anagrus Vulneratus, Beneficial Pests, Biocontrol, Biological Control, Chemical Inputs, Cotton, Eggplant, Entomology And Nematology, High-value Crops, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Integrated Pest Management, News, Okra, Ornamental Entomology, Pest, Roselle, Spanish, Sunflower, Tropical Hibiscus, Two-spot Cotton Leafhopper, UF-IFAS, Wasp
Una fotografía en collage de cultivos afectados por la plaga del saltahojas de dos puntos del algodón y la avispa parasitoide. De izquierda a derecha: okra, berenjena, avispa (Anagrus vulneratus), hibisco tropical y algodón.

¿Pueden dos especies de avispas nativas ayudar a regular las poblaciones de chicharritas invasoras que atacan los cultivos de Florida?


March 19, 2026

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. La mayoría de las personas retrocede al ver una avispa; sin embargo, el hallazgo por parte de investigadores de ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agricultores, Alexandra Revynthi, Algodón, Anagrus Vulneratus, Avispas, Avispas Nativas, Berenjena, Centro De Investigación Y Educación Tropical (TREC), Chicharrita De Dos Manchas Del Algodón, Chicharrita Del Algodón, Chicharrita Verde, Control Biologico, Control Natural, El Jassid Del Algodón, Enemigos Naturales, Enfoque De Conservación, Entomología Ornamental, Español, Flor De Jamaica, Girasol, Hibisco Tropical, Impactos Sobre El Medio Ambiente Y La Salud Humana, Jassid Del Algodón, Libre De Químicos, Manejo Integrado De Plagas (MIP), Mani, MIP, Okra, Plaga, Practicas De Manejo, Quingombó, Secuenciación Genética, Spanish, Sur De Florida, Tejido Foliar, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Yisell Velazquez-Hernandez
big blue sign that says Orange County University of Florida IFAS Extension Education Center with an UF/IFAS logo and an Orange County logo. there are green trees and blue sky in the background.

Fresh Picks: The Month’s Classes


March 18, 2026

April is a great time to put knowledge into action. Our April lineup features classes on gardening and sustainability, financial education, and healthy living, along with hands-on opportunities to learn from Extension agents and volunteers. Explore ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Blog Community, Events, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Money Matters, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Work & Life
Tags: Classes, Events, Extension Education, Learning, Ocextension, Orangecountyfl, UFIFASExtension
An ambrosia beetle stands near larvae that are eating their way through a piece of wood.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Beetles: SFFGS faculty lead major beetle taxonomy paper


March 16, 2026

It’s immense.  School of Forest, Fisheries, & Geomatics Sciences researchers — along with international scientists and experts from the Maryland Department of Agriculture, Michigan State University and the University of Texas — ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Forests, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, Wildlife
Tags: College Of Agricultural And Life Sciences, Forest, Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Forest Health, Forest Management, Forestry, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatic Sciences, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, SFFGS, Trees, Wildlife
Mangos en árboles.

Cómo el clima cambiante de Florida influye en los cultivos de frutas tropicales y subtropicales en diferentes paisajes


March 16, 2026

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. ¿Sabe cómo los cambios de temperatura, el suelo encharcado o el agua de riego salada afectan a los árboles frutales ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agua Subterránea, Arbol, árboles Frutales Tropicales Y Subtropicales, Cambios Estacionales, Centro De Investigación Y Educación Tropical De UF/IFAS, Clima Variable, Cultivos Frutales, Drenaje, Enfermedades, Español, Estres, Haimanote Bayabil, Hidrología E Ingeniería Agrícola, Lluvias, Producción Frutal, Rangos De Temperatura, Riego, Riesgos Hídricos Locales, Salinidad, Sequías, Spanish, Suelos, Temperaturas, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Young Gu Her

Forest health module added to UF Forest Landowner Academy online course


March 10, 2026

What is a healthy forest? Not just a single tree but the full community of all trees, animals and plants that make up a forest. The answer: A healthy forest is made up of vigorous trees and understory, is able to recover after a disturbance ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Farm Management, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Teaching, Wildlife
Tags: Florida Land Steward Program, Forest Health, Forest Management, Forestry, Online Course, Online Education, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences
Florida with magnifying glass and insect

March 2026 First Friday with Florida First Detector


March 9, 2026

Recap of March 2026 First Friday with Florida First Detector This month, we took a closer look at thrips (Order: Thysanoptera), a group of tiny insects that can have outsized impacts on plants. Although there are more than 7,000 thrips species ... READ MORE

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

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