Category: UF/IFAS Extension

4 youth holding two pieces of card board that say "thank" and "you"

The Gift That Keeps on Giving: How Volunteering Can Boost Your Holidays

by angelikakeene
December 9, 2025

The holiday season is often filled with bright lights, music, and cherished family traditions — but it can also be stressful. Between shopping, cooking, wrapping gifts, and attending events, it’s easy to feel tired, overwhelmed, or even ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Events, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Health Benefits, Holiday Spirit, Mental Health, Volunteering

Gulf Coast Catch and Cook December: Redfish

by Dr. Megan Moore
December 8, 2025

The featured Gulf catch and cook species for December 2025 is the Redfish! Redfish are fun to catch and delicious to eat! Redfish can be caught in the Gulf year-round! Read on to learn how to catch Redfish and make a delicious meal! Fun ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Catch And Cook, Fishing, Florida Sea Grant, Gulf, Recreational Fishing, Red Drum, Redfish, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office
Florida with magnifying glass and insect

December 2025 First Friday with Florida First Detector

by Morgan Pinkerton
December 8, 2025

Recap of December 2025 First Friday with Florida First Detector This month, we dove into the topic of invasive mites, specifically focusing on the ones that can damage plants. These tiny arachnids are everywhere: on plants, animals, humans, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Biosecurity, Early Detection, Eradication, FFD25-26, FloridaFirstDetector, Mites, SeminoleCountyAg

Seaweed aquaculture in Florida? A farmer’s perspective.

by Angela Collins
December 3, 2025

Global seaweed production is currently at an all time high (World Bank, 2023; FAO, 2024). Almost all of that production occurs in Asia. The small amount that does occur in the US is restricted to cold water species, like the kelps of New England ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Aquaculture, Clams, Florida Sea Grant, Macroalgae, Seaweed, Shellfish, Tampa Bay

UF Dairy Production Conference Goes on the Road

by cclarson
December 3, 2025

The UF/IFAS Animal Sciences Dairy Production Conference has traditionally been held in Gainesville, attracting students, industry professionals, and dairy producers from around the state. But as dairy operations across the state and region grew ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Farm Management, Livestock, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, , Water
Tags: Animal Science, Dairy, Dairy Producers, Okeechobee County, UF/IFAS Extension, Water

Garden Tool Care: Take Care of Your Tools and They’ll Take Care of You

by Susan Haddock
December 2, 2025

Having the right garden tool is important but keeping them in good condition is just as important. Garden tools often get used hard and put away dirty or wet, which causes rust and damage. With a little maintenance, your tools can work well ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Cleaning Tools, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden Tool Care, Gardening, Gardening Tools, Landscape, Landscape Tools, ProHort, Sharpening Tools, SW ProHort, Tool Care
Beautyberry stem with berries

The Importance of Using Native Plants in Zone 9

by Lisa Strange
December 2, 2025

In zone 9, native plant material is one of the most impactful choices one can make for the environment. Native plants are adapted to our climate and soils, making them more resilient, water-efficient, and less dependent on fertilizers or pesticides. ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: #TaylorCounty, Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Landscaping, Native Plants, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Taylor County

How to Care for a Fresh Christmas Tree

by Susan Haddock
December 2, 2025

Nothing brings holiday spirit into your home quite like the scent and beauty of a fresh Christmas tree. After choosing the perfect one, it’s important to care for it properly so it stays healthy, fragrant, and safe throughout the season. Here ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Christmas Tree, Christmas Tree Care, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fresh Tree, Holiday Tree, ProHort, SW ProHort
Common green iguana resting on a tree in natural environment. Panoramic image.

Es la temporada de cortejo de iguanas: Ask IFAS presenta una guía bilingüe con consejos oportunos

by Luz Bahder
December 2, 2025

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Justo a tiempo para la temporada de festividades y el inicio del período de apareamiento de las iguanas, University ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Lawn, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Agentes De Extension, Apareamiento, Ask IFAS En Español, Control, Cortejo, Ctenosaura Pectinata, Ctenosaura Similis, Danos, Elementos Disuasorios Visuales O Acústicos, Español, Especie Invasora, Gallina De Palo, Green Iguanas, Iguana, Iguana De Cola Espinosa, Iguana Iguana, Iguana Mexicana De Cola Espinosa, Iguana Verde, Impactos, Invierno, Lidiando Con Iguanas En El Paisaje Del Sur De Florida, Manejo, Propiedades, Reptiles, Salmonela, Spanish, UF-IFAS

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