Category: Natural Resources

A close up look at a creek with a small waterfall.

New Study Reveals Challenges and Opportunities for Reducing Nitrogen in Coastal Watersheds

by Mike Loizzo
September 3, 2026

Reducing nitrogen (N) is one of the biggest challenges facing coastal communities. Too much N fuels harmful algal blooms; degrading water quality and negatively impacting seagrass. These problems continue to threaten waterways across the country. ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Water
Tags: AJ Reisinger, Coastal Ecosystems, Ecology, Economics, Nitrogen, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Stream Restoration, Watershed Hydrology
Gardening

Think Before You Spray: Using Integrated Pest Management in Your Florida Landscape

by Sara MacDonald
September 3, 2026

See a bug on your plant? Don't spray it just yet. Finding an insect on your favorite plant can be alarming. You may wonder, “Is it hurting my plant?” or “How do I get rid of it?” Before reaching for a pesticide, take a closer look. That ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Homeowner, IPM, Pests, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County
Dr. Jango Bhadha speaks to Phosphorus Sustainability workshop attendees at the edge of a rice field in the Everglades Agricultural Area.

Taking the Next STEPS: Renewed Funding Advances Phosphorus Sustainability

by Mike Loizzo
September 1, 2026

The Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) Center has received nearly $22.5 million in renewed funding from the National Science Foundation. The NSF support will continue research and collaboration focused on phosphorus ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Farm Management, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Everglades Agricultural Area, Everglades Research And Education Center, Jango Bhadha, Jehangir Bhadha, National Science Foundation-Science And Technology Center, NSF, Nutrient Management, Phosphorus, Science And Technologies For Phosphorus Sustainability, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, STEPS Center

Five Years Underwater — How a Community Helped Track Seagrass Loss in the Charlotte Harbor Estuary

by Kate Rose
September 1, 2026

When people think of Charlotte Harbor, they often look at the surface… and may or may not be disappointed by the often-brown water they see. Although this color is natural and results from staining by plant material (think tea), it may give ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
Tags: Algae, Charlotte Harbor, Charlotte Harbor Estuary, Eyes On Seagrass, Macroalgae, Seagrass
Teen sits ate welcome table.

A New 4-H Year Begins in Wakulla

by Dr. Rachel Pienta
August 30, 2026

At the Wakulla 4-H Open House, the new club year did not begin with a speech. It began with music, conversation, curious questions and the unmistakable energy of young people discovering what they might try next. On Saturday, Aug. 29, close ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Curriculum, Events, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: 4-H Clubs, 4-H Youth Development, Volunteers
A wet meadow wetland of possible groundwater vulnerability in Florida.

AI Offers a New View of Groundwater Vulnerability in Florida

by Mike Loizzo
August 28, 2026

Florida’s farms, communities, and natural ecosystems share a vital resource: groundwater. Aquifers support our drinking-water supplies, agriculture, springs, wetlands and rivers. But in many parts of Florida, shallow and highly permeable aquifers ... READ MORE

Category: Farm Management, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: AI, Aquifer, Artificial Intelligence, Convolutional Neural Network, DRASTIC, Farm Management, Golmar Golmohammadi, Groundwater Vulnerability, Nitrogen, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Watershed Hydrology
stormy skies with palms and flag in foreground

Florida Land Steward Update, August 28, 2026

by Chris Demers
August 28, 2026

  HURRICANE SEASON IS RAMPING UP. ARE YOU READY? We are keeping an eye on Dolly, the next named tropical storm in the Atlantic. We’ve learned the hard way in recent years that powerful hurricanes can make their way inland and ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Cogongrass, Drought, Florida Land Steward Program, Forest Health, Forest Landowner Academy, Hurricane Preparation, Hurricane Recovery, Hurricane Season, Landowner Assistance, Loblolly Pine, NRCS, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Wild Turkey
Numerous birds perched on a mangrove tree.

Field Guide Face-Off Part 1: Anhinga vs Cormorant

by Bridget Gerovac
August 28, 2026

Have you ever been out on a walk or hike with others and confidently identified a nearby bird or plant, only to be told that you are mistaken? You aren't alone, this has happened to everyone. There are so many species that look alike. Sometimes ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Bird, Identification, St. Lucie County, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife

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