Tag: best management practices

Center irrigation pivot in a perennial peanut hay field.

Growing More with Less: How UF/IFAS Is Helping Agriculture Reduce Fertilizer and Irrigation Use

by Kevin Korus
July 30, 2026

Introduction As Florida's population continues to grow and demand for food increases, farmers face the challenge of producing high-quality crops while protecting the state's valuable natural resources. Water conservation and responsible fertilizer ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, Natural Resources, , Water
Tags: Best Management Practices, Fertilizer, Irrigation, Water
Close-up of a compost pile, showing small pieces of organic matter in the process of decomposition. In the background are other compost piles in process.

Compost on the Farm: Testing compost for nutrient content

by Yvette Goodiel
July 16, 2026

This article is part of the series, Using Compost on the Farm. Composting keeps organic materials out of the landfill, prevents water quality impacts resulting from unmanaged debris/manure piles, and provides beneficial re-use of organic waste ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Farm Management, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Best Management Practices, Commercial Horticulture Digest, IFASwater, Martin County, Small Farms, Soil Health, UF/IFAS Extension, Using Compost On The Farm, Water, Water Quality
Pop-up, in-ground sprinkler head and home irrigation system.

GI‑BMP Training: Protecting Water Quality in the Florida Keys

by Liah Continentino
April 28, 2026

The Florida Keys are characterized by coastlines, coral reefs, and marine life. Here in the Keys, protecting and conserving water is essential not only to our health but also to our economy, many of our jobs, and our way of life. Water conservation ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, Water
Tags: Best Management Practices, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Landscaping, Professional, Water

BMP Cost-share opportunities for farmers in the Suwannee Valley:

by Kelsey Crain
April 20, 2026

Why Cost Share? Cost share programs in the Suwannee Valley exist to support more sustainable farming practices that conserve water and reduce nutrient runoff or leaching into the region’s aquifer. These programs help farmers adopt advanced ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Water
Tags: Agriculture, Best Management Practices, Cost Share, Kelsey Crain, NFREC-SV, Nutrient Management Program, Suwannee Valley, SV Ag Update
Piebald white-tailed deer (a deer with irregular white patches caused by a genetic pigmentation trait) feeding no young crop plants in a cultivated agricultural field beside a fenced exclosure.

Florida Growers: Share Your Experience with Deer Damage

by Nigel Williams
March 10, 2026

  White-tailed deer damage in agricultural fields can be substantial and is an increasing concern for growers across Florida. Deer may not be a major issue in every region, but understanding where damage occurs and what types of ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Agriculture, Best Management Practices, BMP, BMPs, Cotton, Deer, Deer-crop Damage, Florida, Harvest, NFREC-SV, North Florida Research And Education Center-Suwannee Valley, On-farm Demonstrations, Peanuts, Small Farms, Suwannee Valley, Suwannee Valley Agriculture, SV Ag Update, UF/IFAS Extension
A large red tractor with extended arms on each side runs through a corn field, applying fertilizer.

Featured New Faculty: Paul White

by Mike Loizzo
February 10, 2026

Paul M. White is one of the newest members of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES). He is an associate professor of soil science and coordinator of the UF/IFAS Agricultural Nutrient Management Program. Based in ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Best Management Practices, Farming, Fertilizer, Nutrient Management, Nutrient Management Program, Paul M White, Precision Agriculture, Soil, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Sustainable Agriculture, Water
A tractor spreads liquid manure biosolids over a pasture field.

Fertilizer Source Matters: A Comparison of Alternatives for Nutrient Content

by Mike Loizzo
January 27, 2026

Fertilizer source is one of the four Rs of fertilizer management (Right source, Right place, Right time, and Right placement). Mineral fertilizers are typically synthesized (i.e., nitrogen from the Haber-Bosch process) or mined from mineral ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Best Management Practices, BMPs, Cheryl Mackowiak, Conservation, Fertility, Fertilization, Field Crops, Forage & Pasture, General Agriculture, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences
Rows of peanut plants at the North Florida Research and Education Center - Suwannee Valley

Register Now for the 2026 FL-AGSOIL Conference

by Mike Loizzo
January 19, 2026

Florida’s agricultural community is invited to attend the Florida Agronomy and Soil Initiative and Learning (FL-AGSOIL) Conference. It takes place February 19–20, 2026, at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center–Suwannee ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: BMP, Corn, Cotton, FL-AGSOIL, Florida Agronomy And Soil Initiative And Learning Conference, Irrigation, Lakesh Sharma, Nitrogen, Nutrient Management, Nutrient Management Program, Phosphorus, Soil Fertility, Soil Health, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Water Quality

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