Tag: Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Blue Bird feeding on a bird feeder UF/IFAS Photo by Cristina Carrizosa.

Want to attract birds to your outdoor spaces? Ask IFAS bilingual resources offer guidance on the right approach

by Lourdes Mederos
April 2, 2026

More than 50 million Americans feed birds, putting out an estimated billion pounds of bird food each year, based on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data summarized by bird-feeding researchers. Backyard bird feeding is popular across Florida, ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Backyard Birds, Bird Feeders, Bird Food, Bird-friendly, Birds, Birdwatching, Food, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, News, Outdoor Spaces, Prey, U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida, Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation
A close look at an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake at the Jacksonville Zoo. UFIFAS Photo Josh Wickham.

Wildlife Watch: Can you recognize Florida’s native venomous snakes? Here is your how-to with Ask IFAS’ bilingual guide

by Lourdes Mederos
April 1, 2026

About this series As residential and commercial development expands across Florida, wildlife is adapting to live closer to people. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) shares tips through ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Conservation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Conservation, Copperhead, Coral Snake, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Ecology, Florida, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Native Snakes, News, Nonvenomous, Pit-viper, Pygmy Rattlesnake, Snakes, Steve Johnson, Timber Rattlesnake, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Wildlife Ecology And Conservation, University Of Florida, Venemous Snakes, Vipers, Wildlife, Wildlife Watch
A view of several lettuce varities. Photos taken Photo taken 02-02-23 by UFIFAS Tyler Jones

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
A collage photo of crops that are impacted by the two-spot cotton leafhopper pest. From left to right, Florida commodities include cotton, tropical hibiscus, okra and eggplant.

Can two native wasps help regulate invasive leafhopper populations attacking Florida’s crops?

by Lourdes Mederos
March 19, 2026

Most people retreat at the sight of a wasp, yet University of Florida researchers’ discovery of two newly identified tiny native wasps targeting an invasive pest that threatened Florida agriculture may be a hopeful sign for growers. In ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, , Conservation, Crops, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Acarology, Agriculture, Alexandra Revynthi, Anagrus Sp. Near Vulneratus, Anagrus Vulneratus, Beneficial Pests, Biocontrol, Biological Control, Chemical Inputs, Cotton, Eggplant, Entomology And Nematology, High-value Crops, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Integrated Pest Management, News, Okra, Ornamental Entomology, Pest, Roselle, Spanish, Sunflower, Tropical Hibiscus, Two-spot Cotton Leafhopper, UF-IFAS, Wasp
Mature avocado trees in South Florida at the Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead, Florida. UF/IFAS photo by Tyler Jones

How Florida’s changing weather impacts tropical, subtropical fruit crops in your landscape

by Lourdes Mederos
March 16, 2026

Do you ever wonder how things like temperature changes, overly wet soils or salty irrigation water affect your fruit trees at home? University of Florida scientists at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have those ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, , Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agricultural And Biological Engineering, Alternative Fruit Crops, Ask IFAS, Avocado, Backyard, Carambola, Community Gardens, Disease Risk, Extension, Fruit Tree, Haimanote Bayabil, Hydrology, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Irrigation, Low-lying Yards, Mango, News, Orchard, Poor Drainage, Salinity, Salty Soil, Small Urban Orchards, Soil Conditions, Soil Moisture, Star Fruit, Subtropical Fruit Production, Temperature, Tropical Fruit Production, Tropical Research And Education Center, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Tropical Research And Education Center, Water, Weaken Trees, Weather, Young Gu Her
A close up of Dr. Jose Chaparro examining the first flowers from a cold-hardy avocado cultivar.

Cold-hardy avocados aimed at transforming Florida’s future fruit industry

by Lourdes Mederos
March 12, 2026

Highlights: University of Florida scientists proved their cold‑hardy avocado lines can survive the January 2026 freeze, enduring temperatures as low as 17 degrees, which is far colder than commercial varieties like Hass can tolerate. ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, , Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agriculture, Anthracnose, Avocado, California, Central Florida, Cold Resistance, Cold-hardy, Cultivar, Disease Resistance, Florida, Florida Agriculture, Florida Avocado, Florida-grown Avocado, Food Is Medicine, Freeze Resistant, Hass, Horticultural Sciences, Horticulture, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jose Chaparro, Laboratory, Laurel Wilt, News, North Florida, Soil, South Florida, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, University Of Florida, Water
A close-up look at Formosan subterranean termites. Photo by Thomas Chouvenc.

Florida termite breakthrough research sparks a nationwide surveillance collaboration initiative

by Lourdes Mederos
February 19, 2026

A new nationwide initiative inspired by University of Florida research is uniting scientists and industry professionals across the United States to stay ahead of destructive invasive termites. Known as The North American Termite Survey ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Asian Subterranean Termite, Entomology And Nematology, Extension, Florida, Formosan Subterranean Termite, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Invasive Species, Model, National Invasive Species Awareness Week, NATS, News, Pest Management, South Florida, Structural Damage, Structural Entomologists, Termite Infestations, Termites, The North American Termite Survey, Thomas Chouvenc, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research Education Center, University Of Florida Termite Collection
Adobe stock picture of people feet walking

Starting March 5, popular Let’s Walk Florida returns! Join the healthy lifestyle mobility movement

by Lourdes Mederos
February 17, 2026

People tend to move more when they have inviting, safe places to walk. Those kinds of surroundings also help people stay motivated and connected with others, promoting sustained healthy habits, according to research from the Centers for ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Clubs & Volunteers, Events, Health & Nutrition, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Work & Life
Tags: Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Coaching, Dietitian Nutritionist, Health Guides, Healthier Habits, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jessica Alfonso- Rodriguez, Let's Walk Florida, Movement, Movement Goals, News, Science-based Nutrition, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, Virtual Walking, Walking, Wellness Program
Florida panther by FWC

Wildlife Watch: Learn to protect the Florida panther during critical breeding season with Ask IFAS’ bilingual guide

by Lourdes Mederos
February 12, 2026

About this series As residential and commercial development expands across Florida, wildlife is adapting to live closer to people. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) shares tips through Ask ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Conservation, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Agricultural Areas, Ask IFAS, Big Cats, Breeding Population, Caloosahatchee River, Conservation Strategies, Endangered Species, Endangered Species Act, Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Florida Panther, Forests, FWC, Habitat, Habitat Loss, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Kittens, Neighborhoods, News, Panther Behavior, Prairies, Public Awareness, Ranchlands, Research, Species Survival, U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida, Vehicle Collisions, Wetlands, Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Watch

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