When maintaining a garden, knowing the difference between your enemies and the “good guys” is half the battle. Once, I was teaching a group of landscape maintenance folks about beneficial insects, and quizzed them on their bug identification ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources
The same delicious fats, oils, and grease that make Thanksgiving dishes so rich and flavorful also pose a hidden threat to your home's plumbing and the community's sewer lines. When washed down the drain, these seemingly harmless substances—found ... READ MORE
Category: Home Management, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! On behalf of Florida Land Steward and Florida Tree Farm Program partners, we THANK YOU for all that you do for the stewardship of forests and natural resources in Florida. Your efforts provide innumerable benefits to the ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, Wildlife
Over the last decade human-bear encounters have increased across Florida, including the Panhandle. Recently the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) posted advice on how we can prepare for the fall season. They mention ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Mangroves are among the most abundant and important plant species growing along Florida’s extensive coastline and associated estuaries. The three mangrove species found in Florida are the red (Rhizophora mangle), black (Avicennia germinans) ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease,
Fruit and vegetable growers across the Florida Panhandle, as well as Southern Alabama and Georgia, are invited to attend the 2026 Tri-State Fruit & Vegetable Annual Conference. This conference will be held Thursday, January 29th, 2026, at ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension![a digital meat thermometer reads 165.3 degrees fahrenheit while checking chicken on a barbecue grill. [credit: uf/ifas, tyle jones; edit: uf/ifas extension sarasota county]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/07/2017_FCS_foodsafetyGrillingThermometer01UPDATE165F_ifasJonesTyler_CROP1650x470.jpg)
Every year, I get invited to participate in the Alligator Creek Festival. During this annual festival, attendees learned about sustainability, environmentally friendly practices, conservation efforts, and community engagement, among other ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Natural Resources, Work & Life![a group of young adults sits at a table in a restaurant/bar, with "brewing ideas" pint glasses, sharing conversation. [credit: unsplash.com]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2025/11/2025_Waste_brewideasGroupAtBar_unsplashSergeyTarasov_EDITicon1650x470TINY.png)
Cheers to "Brewing Ideas with UF/IFAS"! We launched this innovative series last month, to bring together community members and local experts for an evening of open discussion on relevant environmental solutions. The goals were simple: make ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Water, Wildlife
Two students from the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) returned from an international conference with well-earned recognition. Oluwasegun Olubisi and Justina Odogwu have Mary Lusk, assistant professor in the UF/IFAS Department ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Research
The holidays are all about good food, great gatherings and plenty of gratitude. It can be a time of extended budgets, overflowing trash bins and wasted leftovers. How does one plan with precision to maximize savings, guarantee ... READ MORE
Category: , Conservation, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Money Matters, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Work & Life