Air Potato
Air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) is an invasive plant in Florida that can quite literally take over—its vines can cover whole areas of vegetation, and it can even climb up into trees. Learn more about this invasive plant and… Read More
Category: Natural Resources
Reclaiming Phosphate Mining Areas
Phosphate is a key component of fertilizer, making it an important part of agriculture and food production. In 2010, Florida produced 65% of all the phosphate produced in the United States.1 Phosphate minerals are mined from the soil,… Read More
SNRE graduate student leads the way in Cuban manatee conservation
By Hannah O. Brown Anmari Alvarez-Aleman hitchhiked 40 miles to North Havana in the winter of 2007 in search of a sight that would guide her life in the years to come—a Florida manatee and her calf resting… Read More
Prescribed Burns in Florida
A prescribed burn is the intentional, controlled burning of vegetation by resource management professionals. Though prescribed burns might initially seem destructive, they actually help keep ecosystems in balance and keep people and their property safe from the truly… Read More
Efficient Home Irrigation
It’s raining, as it often does in Florida, and all of a sudden you realize that your sprinklers are on. You think, what a waste!, perhaps vowing to keep better tabs on the weather forecast. However, efficient home… Read More
March Wildlife Happenings
March brings the start of spring—and the appearance of wildlife like red foxes, swallow tailed kites, and toads. More wildlife happenings… UF/IFAS Photo
Armadillos in Florida
When I first moved Florida, I was really charmed the first time I saw an armadillo up close. As it toddled across a lawn at dusk, I remember thinking how exotic yet clumsy it looked. Read on to… Read More
Windbreaks and Sustainability
While windbreaks can often enhance the aesthetic appeal of an area, their main purpose is to reduce the impact of wind on crops and soil and make an agricultural operation more sustainable. How Windbreaks Work Windbreaks act as… Read More
Attracting Wildlife to Your Backyard
I always love the first time I notice that cardinals have returned to my yard, which is usually around this time of year. It’s great fun watching their bright red bodies flit around in the trees and listening… Read More
Beekeeping in Florida
Honey bees and farmers have a very special relationship: bees collect nectar and pollen from flowering crops, and in return, the pollinated crops bear fruit. Because of their roles as pollinators, honey bees are critical to the success… Read More