Tag: Everglades Research and Education Center

Can spreading basaltic volcanic rock dust improve crops and the health of Florida’s soils?

by Lourdes Mederos
May 12, 2026

Highlights: UF researchers are testing volcanic rock dust to improve soil health across the state’s sandy and organic farmlands. A $749,999 USDA-funded, four-year study aims to boost crop productivity while cutting reliance on ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, , Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agricultural Acreage, Agroindustry, And Geomatics Sciences, Basaltic Volanic Rock, Boost Crop Growth, CALS, CLAS, David Foster, Department Of Geological Sciences, Everglades Agricultural Area, Everglades Research And Education Center, Fisheries, Grant, Improve Soil Health, Improve Soil Quality, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jehangir Bhadha, Landscapes, Mineral Soils, News, Organic Farmlands, Reduce Fertilizers, Research, Rice, Rosvel Bracho, Soil Amendments, Sugarcane, Sustainable Agriculture, U.S. Department Of Agriculture Forest Inventory And Analysis, UF College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Range Cattle Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS School Of Forest, University Of Florida, USDA-NIFA, Volcanic Rock

On the edge of a breakthrough: UF/IFAS breeding disease-resistant lettuce for U.S. farms, kitchens

by Lourdes Mederos
March 24, 2026

University of Florida scientists are closer to a breakthrough that could safeguard the nation’s lettuce supply. Backed by a $500,000 federal grant, the team is working to develop disease-resistant lettuce varieties built to withstand ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, , Conservation, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Arizona, Bacterial Leaf Spot, Breeding, California, Cercospora Leaf Spot, Climates, Consumers, Crop, Cultivars, Economic Engine, Economy, Everglades Research And Education Center, Florida, Florida Economy, Freshness, German Sandoya, Harvest, Iceberg, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Leaf Lettuce, Lettuce, Lettuce Breeding, Lettuce Breeding Program, Market Demands, National Institute Of Food And Agriculture, News, Postharvest, Production, Public, Resistence, Romaine, Sandy Soils, Storage, Texture, Transportation, U.S. Department Of Agriculture, U.S. Department Of Agriculture National Institute Of Food And Agriculture, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Plant Breeding, USDA-NIFA, Varieties

Harnessing AI with drone imagery to detect costly celery disease before symptoms surface

by Lourdes Mederos
January 29, 2026

University of Florida scientists are launching a new, grant-funded research project that uses artificial intelligence and drone technology to help Florida celery growers detect a damaging fungal disease before symptoms are visible — a ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Crops, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: AI, Artificial Intellgience, Blight Disease, Celery, Crop, Disease, Early Blight Disease, Everglades Agricultural Area, Everglades Research And Education Center, Florida Agriculture, Florida Economy, Fungus, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Katia Viana Xavier, Larissa Carvallo Ferriera, News, Pests, Plant Pathology, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, Weather

What’s New on Ask IFAS: Entomology and Nematology (Nov. – Dec.)

by Susan Gildersleeve
January 9, 2026

Common Insect Pests of Lettuce in Florida Tennyson B. Nkhoma, De-Fen Mou. Lettuce is one of the most important horticultural commodities in Florida state agriculture, with production concentrated in the Everglades agriculture area. Among ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Natural Resources
Tags: Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Department Of Family Youth And Community Sciences, Everglades Research And Education Center, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Honey Bee, Honey Bee Research And Extension Laboratory, Lettuce, Mosquito Control

What’s New on Ask IFAS: Agronomy (Nov.–Dec.)

by Amanda Quintos
January 9, 2026

Understanding Fertilizers and Soil Amendments Niguss Solomon Hailegnaw, Guodong Liu, and Yuncong Li. Choosing the right fertilizer/amendment type (organic or inorganic/synthetic) can impact soil health, plant vigor, environmental sustainability, ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops
Tags: Energycane, Everglades Research And Education Center, Fertilizer, Peanut, Plant Growth Regulator, Soil Amendment, Sugarcane

Unlocking Nutrients In Florida’s Rice Fields

by Mike Loizzo
October 13, 2025

The Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) boasts organic-rich soil, ideal for farming. Rice producers, however, must deal with phosphorus and iron tightly bound in the soil, making them unavailable to plants. New University of Florida Institute ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Farm Management, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Everglades Agricultural Area, Everglades Research And Education Center, Flooding, Iron, Jango Bhadha, Nutrient Management, Phosphorus, Rice, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Sugarcane, Suraj Melkani

Flooded Rice Crop Rotation May Slow Carbon Loss, Subsidence in Everglades Organic Soils

by Mike Loizzo
October 8, 2025

South Florida’s muck soils store carbon built over thousands of years. However, decades of drainage for agriculture have resulted in a shift in redox condition resulting in soil, organic matter, and subsequent carbon losses. A new University ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Dynamic Soil Properties, Everglades Agricultural Area, Everglades Research And Education Center, Histosols, Jango Bhadha, Jehangir Bhadha, Rice, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Xue Bai

Miami native returns home to focus on youth, community, climate as UF/IFAS Extension director

by Lourdes Mederos
September 29, 2025

In the first 30 days as director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Miami-Dade County, Pamela Aracena Santos has begun shaping programs to better reflect the voices and needs of the ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Crops, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Amelia Earhart Park, Everglades Agricultural Area, Everglades Research And Education Center, Homestead, Marine Ecosystems, Miami, Miami-Dade’s Parks, News, Nutrition Education, Pamela Aracena Santos, Phosphorus, Plant Nutrition, Recreation And Open Spaces, Selcuk University, Soil Science, Tropical Research And Education Center, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, University Of Florida, Urban Agriculture

Miami native returns home to focus on youth, community, climate as UF/IFAS Extension director

by Lourdes Mederos
September 29, 2025

UF/IFAS agronomist’s passion for farming drives his work to maximize soil health and crop growth for farmers

by Lourdes Mederos
April 1, 2025

Niguss Solomon Hailegnaw developed a deep appreciation for the challenges and opportunities in farming while growing up in Ethiopia, where agriculture is a fundamental part of more than 80% of Ethiopian daily life. His passion for agronomy ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Crops, Farm Management, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agronomy, Crop Production, Everglades Agricultural Area, Everglades Research And Education Center, Farmers, Fertilizer Rate, Five Rs, Florida, Florida Soil, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Modern Cropping Systems, News, Niguss Hailegnaw, Nutrient Stewardship, Nutrients, Phosphorus, Right Amount, Right Placement, Right Rate, Right Source, Right Time, Soil, Soil And Water Sciences, Soil Degradation, Soil Health, Sustainable Crop Production, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida

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