Category: SFYL Hot Topic

Academic invasion science innovations protect ecosystems, agriculture in U.S. South

by Lourdes Mederos
September 30, 2026

From flesh-eating screwworm flies threatening livestock and wildlife to spotted lanternflies swarming cities, mealybugs damaging crops, invasive plants choking waterways and Burmese pythons disrupting native ecosystems, invasive species are ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Invasive Species, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Apple Sails, Asian Longhorned Tick, Invasion Science Institute, Invasive Species, New World Screwworm, Pasture Mealybug, Rice Stink Bug, Top News, Yellow-legged Hornet

Spread the Word: 2026 Peanut Butter Challenge runs Oct 1 to Oct 31 in Polk County!

by Jasi Cairns
September 30, 2026

Join the Peanut Butter Challenge! Get ready to go nuts for a great cause! The Peanut Butter Challenge is back, and it’s more exciting than ever! Hosted by UF/IFAS Extension and Florida A&M University (FAMU) Cooperative Extension, this ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Community Volunteers, Crops, Events, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Charity, Donate, Florida Peanut Federation, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Food Banks, Food Pantries, PBChallenge, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Challenge, Polk County, PolkExtension, PolkPBChallenge, Spread The Love, Spread The Peanut Butter

Un estudio de la UF combina información demográfica con aprendizaje automático para localizar pitones birmanas

by Luz Bahder
September 30, 2026

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. A la hora de remover pitones birmanas, no todas las serpientes son iguales. Un nuevo estudio llevado a cabo por ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Invasive Species, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Alex Romer, Croc Docs, Español, Melissa Miller, Pitones Birmanas, Remocion De Pitones, Sergio Balaguera-Reina, Spanish

Buyer Beware of Fake Shopping Websites

by Alicia Betancourt
September 29, 2026

The internet has made shopping more convenient than ever—but it has also opened the door for scams. Fake websites that claim to sell cheap products are increasingly common, targeting people looking for good deals. While these sites may look ... READ MORE

Category: Money Matters, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Consumer Fraud, Consumer Protection, Counterfeit Products, Credit Card Fraud, Cybersecurity, Digital Safety, Fake Shopping Websites, Fake Websites, Fraud Prevention, FTC, IC3, Identity Theft, Internet Fraud, Online Safety, Online Scams, Online Shopping Scams, Safe Online Shopping, Scam Awareness, Shopping Scams, Social Media Scams, UF/IFAS Extension

UF study combines demographic information with machine learning to find the Burmese pythons that matter most

by Lourdes Mederos
September 28, 2026

When it comes to removing Burmese pythons, one snake does not equal another. A new study by researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) offers agencies a tool to identify pythons with ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Invasive Species, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Burmese Python, Croc Docs Wildlife Research Lab, Everglades, Invasive Species, Python Elimination Program, South Florida Water Management District, UF/IFAS Wildlife Ecology And Conservation

UF study combines demographic information with machine learning to find the Burmese pythons that matter most

by Lourdes Mederos
September 28, 2026

Florida Land Steward Update, September 25, 2026

by Chris Demers
September 25, 2026

Wetland Preserve Recognized as Florida Land Steward Ambassadors at the 2026 Florida Forestry Association Annual Meeting The Florida Land Steward Ambassador award is presented to Wetland Preserve for outstanding communications and service ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, Wildlife
Tags: American Tree Farm System, Award, Conservation, Florida Land Steward Program, Forest Landowner Academy, Forest Landowners, Hurricane Recovery, Landowner Assistance, NRCS, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Southern Pine Beetle

What is helping some Florida wildfires burn hotter, spread faster?

by Lourdes Mederos
September 23, 2026

What is helping some Florida wildfires burn hotter and spread farther? A University of Florida study suggests cogongrass, an invasive grass that has spread across much of Florida and the Southeast United States, is adding more fuel to the ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Climate, Cogongrass, Florida Wildlifes, Invasive Species, News, Prescribed Fires, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatic Sciences, Wildfires

What is helping some Florida wildfires burn hotter, spread faster?

by Lourdes Mederos
September 23, 2026

Cities worldwide may be the ultimate training grounds for invasive species

by Lourdes Mederos
September 21, 2026

With city growth and urban sprawl, could these changing landscapes be giving invasive species a competitive edge? Scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) say the answer may be yes, ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Climate Change, Environment, Invasive Species, Luke Flory, Top News, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida Invasion Science Institute, Urban Sprawl

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