Category: Natural Resources

An aerial view of the hemp field experiment in 2022 at UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, FL. Here, researchers planted acres of a popular hemp variety known as Wife. Photo by Tamara Serrano

UF/IFAS study: Drones, AI help farmers save money, protect the environment

by Lourdes Mederos
May 21, 2025

A new University of Florida study shows how drones can do more than just take aerial pictures and videos—they can help farmers grow better hemp by seeing the health of their crops with some artificial intelligence assistance. Researchers ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agriculture, Agroecology, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Canopy, Crops, Dollar Drone Company, Drone, Fertilization, Fertilizer, Flower Production, Hemp, Hemp Canopy, Hemp Research, Nitrogen, Nutrients, Plant Health, Reflectance, Tropical Research And Education Center, Zachary Brym
The internal part of this damaged tree has been eaten by termites Courtesy Thomas Chouvenc blog

UF/IFAS scientists confirm hybrid termites established in Florida

by Lourdes Mederos
May 21, 2025

Scientists confirm that two of the world’s most destructive invasive termite species are not only spreading in the United States but also hybridizing – the process of two different species crossbreeding to produce a hybrid. This raises ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Home Management, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Asian Subterranean Termites, Biology, Entomology And Nematology, Formosan Subterranean Termites, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Genetic, Hybrid, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Invasion, Invasion Science, Invasive, Lourdes Mederos, News, Proceedings Of The Royal Society B, Structural Damage, Termite Soldier, Termites, Thomas Chouvenc

Learn About Composting Day is May 29: UF/IFAS experts available to provide insights into best practices

by Lourdes Mederos
May 20, 2025

As cities across the nation increasingly embrace composting as a sustainable solution to food waste, the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is proud to offer access to leading experts in the field. ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Events, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Broward County, Calvin Gardner, Carrie Stevenson, Compost, Compost Consortium, Compost Experts, Compost Industry, Compostable, Composting, Conservation, Dave Hébert, Environmental Hazards, Escambia County, Florida Compost Council, Food, Food Waste, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Health, Landfill, Learn About Composting Day, Methane Emissions, Mica McMillan, Nassau County, Orange County, Randall Penn, Sarasota County, Sustainability, Sustainable Solutions, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Vermicompost, Vermicomposting

Meet Bob Frank: A Florida Master Naturalist Program Success Story

by Katherine Clements
May 20, 2025

Blog co-authored by Mary Ellen Boelhower, Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) graduate Meet Bob Frank, Conservation Ambassador Amateur photographer Bob Frank spent his career as a college professor in Ohio before retiring to Florida ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Natural Resources, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Conservation, Course, Ecology, Florida Master Naturalist Program, FMNP, Fmnp-in-srq, Learn, Nature, Pgm_EcoNR, Wildlife
Two young boys rotating a compost bin. Photo taken 12-05-16.

Composting is officially on the map in Deerfield Beach; UF/IFAS is leading the charge for a statewide model

by Lourdes Mederos
May 19, 2025

Sandwiched between International Compost Week in early May and National Composting Day on May 29, a new initiative with the University of Florida is taking shape as cities across the nation embrace composting as a sustainable solution to ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Fruits & Vegetables, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS
Tags: City Of Deerfield Beach, Compost, Compost College, Compost Industry, Filthy Organics, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, International Composting Week, Landfills, Lourdes Mederos, Market Viability, May 29, Methane Emissions, Mica McMillan, Micro-composter, National Composting Day, News, Organic Waste, Organics Recycling Foundation, Sustainable Alternatives, U.S. Department Of Agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, UF-IFAS, USDA, USDA Composting And Food Waste Reduction Program
Garrett Beach and Tyler Pittman

Automating irrigation of Suwannee Valley crop saved more than 164 million gallons of water in 2024

by Megan Winslow
May 19, 2025

May is peak watermelon season in North Florida, and farmers are busy tending to their crops as they anticipate harvesting around Memorial Day. Rather than painstakingly twisting water valves, however, an ever-growing number are relying on automated ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: FDACS, Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services, Gilchrist County, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Irrigation, Office Of Agricultural Water Policy, Suwannee County, Suwannee River Water Management District, SV Ag Update, Tyler Pittman, UF, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, Watermelon

Florida Land Steward Update, May 16, 2025

by Chris Demers
May 16, 2025

NATIONAL ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY, MAY 16 Every year the third Friday in May marks Endangered Species Day. Designated by the U.S. Congress in 2006, this day spotlights and advances conservation efforts for endangered (and threatened) species ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Endangered Species, Family Forest, Florida Land Steward Program, Hurricane Preparation, Invasive Species, Longleaf Pine, Natural Resources, Online Course, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Southern Pine Beetle, Tree Farm, Wildlife

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