Tag: Mid-Florida Research and Education Center

building exterior with UF/IFAS above double doors

UF/IFAS names new director of Mid-Florida Research and Education Center

by Tory Moore
May 18, 2026

UF/IFAS professor Kirsten Pelz-Stelinski will begin her role as director of the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center on August 1. As director, Pelz-Stelinski will lead faculty, staff and students at the Apopka research center. ... READ MORE

Category: Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Director, Leadership, Mid-Florida Research And Education Center, MREC, UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research And Education Center
An image of a stormwater pond in a residential area.

Survey shows most homeowners don’t understand the two key jobs of stormwater ponds

by Brad Buck
May 18, 2026

More than 76,000 stormwater ponds are woven into Florida neighborhoods. Yet beneath their calm surfaces, these ponds are quietly struggling. Many are overloaded with excess nutrients, fueling algal blooms and degrading water quality. At the ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, Water
Tags: Aesthetics, Buffer Zone, Ecosystems, Filter, Flooding, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food And Resource Economics, Hayk Khachatryan, Homeowners, Homeowners Associations, Knowledge, Michelle Atkinson, Mid-Florida Research And Education Center, Nutrients, Residential Neighborhood, Residents, Stormwater, Stormwater Ponds, UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County, Water, Water Quality
A red tractor with extended sprayer arms moves through a large, green crop field.

Media Alert: Join Experts for the 11th Annual UF/IFAS Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference

by Jamie Groh
May 18, 2026

What: The UF/IFAS Department of Food and Resource Economics (FRE) hosts the annual Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference.  Where: The Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, 2725 S Binion Rd, Apopka, Fl, 32703 or virtually ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, UF/IFAS
Tags: Conference, Featured, Florida Agricultural Policy Conference, Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference, Food And Resource Economics, Food And Resource Economics Department, Mid-Florida Research And Education Center, Policy, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences
Close-up of ripe oranges on a tree with green leaves and a blue sky in the background.

Center scientists aim to solve devastating citrus greening, first, then other crop diseases

by Brad Buck
May 18, 2026

University of Florida scientists are joining forces at the Crop Transformation Center (CTC) to wage a high-tech war against pests and diseases threatening Florida’s crops – arming farmers with cutting-edge solutions to protect the state’s ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, UF/IFAS
Tags: Alfred Huo, Bioinformatics, Charlie Messina, Citrus, Citrus Greening, Citrus Research And Education Center, Crop Transformation Center, Gene Editing, Genetics, Growers, Horticultural Sciences, Huanglongbing (HLB), Michael Rogers, Mid-Florida Research And Education Center, Single Cell Sequencing, Transgenic
A partially flooded agricultural field with rows of green plants.

Hurricanes can bring crop diseases, but plant clinics help farmers quickly and accurately battle pathogens spread by storms

by Brad Buck
May 18, 2026

Last fall, strawberry fields in the Tampa Bay region and at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) were riddled by colletotrichum crown rot disease, which was spread by winds and rain from Hurricane Milton. The Category ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Crops, Crown Rot, Disease Control, Diseases, Florida Strawberry Growers Association, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Hurricane Milton, Hurricanes, Kenneth Parker, Marcus Marin, Mathews Paret, Mid-Florida Research And Education Center, Natalia Peres, North Florida Research And Education Center, Pathogens, Plant Diagnostic Clinic, Plant Diseases, Plant Pathology, Rapid Diagnosis, Southwest Florida Research And Education Center, Soybean Rust, Strawberries, Tropical Research And Education Center
Dried hops

UF/IFAS researchers work to make beer hops a Florida crop

by Megan Winslow
May 18, 2026

Although plenty of Florida’s craft brewers advertise their libations as brewed with state-grown ingredients, a vital ingredient – hops – is not readily available within the Sunshine State. A University of Florida study currently underway, ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Horticulture, UF/IFAS
Tags: Apopka, Aroma Test, Beer, Brewers Association, Brewing, Cascade, Chinook, Craft Brewing, Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services, Food Science And Human Nutrition Department, Greenhouse, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Hops, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Katherine Thompson-Witrick, Megan Winslow, Mid-Florida Research And Education Center, Research, Sensory Test, Testing, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Yakima Valley
Oxalis stricta

‘False shamrock’ more likely to herald headaches than luck

by Megan Winslow
May 18, 2026

Florida residents seeking a dose of luck this St. Patrick’s Day likely won’t find it among the weeds in their backyards. (more…) READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Lawn, Turf, UF/IFAS
Tags: Chris Marble, Herbicides, Holiday, Landscape, Lawn, Luck, Matthew Lollar, Megan Winslow, Mid-Florida Research And Education Center, Oxalis, Oxalis Stricta, Santa Rosa County, St Patrick's Day, St. Patty's Day, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Weed
Close-up of a green plant stem with a scale insect on a fuzzy white and brown cluster.

UF/IFAS researchers work to protect against Lebbeck mealybug

by Brad Buck
May 18, 2026

By Robin Koestoyo FORT PIERCE, Fla.--- Florida citrus and nursery growers need to develop proactive management plans for Lebbeck mealybug, an invasive pest that can cost the fruit and ornamental industry thousands of dollars in damages to fruit ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Citrus Research And Education Center, Diagnostic Kit, Fruit Trees, Indian River Research And Education Center, Lance Osborne, Landscaping Plants, Lauren Diepenbrock, Lebbeck Mealybug, Mid-Florida Research And Education Center, Nicole Quinn, Ornamentals, Ronald D. Cave

UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp virtual workshop available Jan. 11

by Samantha Murray
May 18, 2026

The UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Program is launching a virtual workshop with research and program updates, available online beginning January 11 for $40. The workshop consists of a collection of pre-recorded lectures and prepared documents ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, SFYL Hot Topic
Tags: Agronomy, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Hemp, Industrial Hemp, Industrial Hemp Research Project, Johan Desaeger, Luke Flory, Mid-Florida Research And Education Center, Tropical Research And Education Center, Virtual Workshop, Workshop, Zack Brym

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