Tag: UF/IFAS Extension

photo of bee on pink flower

Florida Heat Isn’t Just Hard on Your Plants—It’s Hard on You, Too

by Angelika Keene
July 21, 2026

As Florida Master Gardeners, we know summer gardening isn't for the faint of heart. We carefully watch our plants for signs of heat stress, adjust our watering schedules, and look for ways to help our gardens survive another hot, humid day. But ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Community Wellness, Florida Gardening, Florida Heat, Florida Master Gardeners, Garden Safety, Gardening Life, Gardening Tips, Healthy Gardeners, Heat Illness Prevention, Heat Safety, Hydration, Master Gardener Volunteers, Mental Health, Mental Health First Aid, Mental Wellness, Outdoor Safety, Self Care, Stay Cool, Summer Gardening, UF/IFAS Extension, Wellness In The Garden
Letter tiles spelling out summer

Vacation Doesn’t Mean Taking a Vacation from Your Health

by Lori Wiggins
July 20, 2026

Summer is the perfect time to pack your bags, spend time with family and friends, and explore new places. Whether you're heading to the beach, taking a road trip, or enjoying a weekend getaway, vacations provide an opportunity to relax and recharge. ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Exercise, Family, Florida, Health, Healthy, Physical Activity, Recreation, Summer, Taylor County, UF/IFAS Extension, Vacation
Fruits and vegetables with white background

Healthy Eating with Diabetes: Small Changes That Make a Big Difference

by Lori Wiggins
July 20, 2026

Living with diabetes doesn’t mean giving up the foods you enjoy. Instead, it means learning how to make healthier choices that help keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range while supporting your overall well-being. A balanced diet is one ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Cooking, Diabetes, Florida, Health, Healthy, Healthy Eating, Managing Diabetes, Nutrition, Taylor County, UF/IFAS Extension
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
A streak of white lightning on a dark background.

Boom! That thunder signals lightning is near. Be ready with these safety tips

by Brad Buck
July 15, 2026

We’re entering the heart of Florida’s summer thunderstorm season, and the daily rumble of storms heralds one of nature’s most dangerous hazards: lightning.  The danger is far from theoretical. Of the 21 known fatalities reported nationwide ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Beach Safety, Florida Lightning Safety, Florida Summer Storms, Florida Weather, Fort Myers Beach Lightning, Lara Milligan, Lightning Awareness, Lightning Hazards, Lightning Injuries, Lightning Misconceptions, Lightning Prevention, Lightning Safety Florida, Lightning Safety Tips, Lightning Shelter, Lightning Strikes, Natural Resources Extension, Outdoor Recreation Safety, Outdoor Safety, Public Safety Education, Severe Weather Preparedness, Shannon Carnevale, Storm Safety, Summer Thunderstorms, Thunder And Lightning, Thunderstorm Preparedness, Thunderstorm Safety, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida, Weather Education, Weather Safety, When Thunder Roars Go Indoors, Wildfire Prevention

The Landscape Order of Operations: Water. Test. Fertilize—if needed.

by Lauren Spaduzzi
July 15, 2026

A simple guide to diagnosing landscape problems before reaching for fertilizer. When plants start looking unhealthy, it's tempting to reach for a bag of fertilizer. Yellowing leaves, stunted growth, or poor flowering often seem like obvious ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Water
Tags: Central Florida, Fertilizer, Fertilizer Ordinances, Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruit, Garden, Gardening, Hillsborough, Hillsborough County, Home Landscapes, Irrigation, Landscape, Master Gardener, Soil PH, Soil Test, UF/IFAS Extension, Vegetable, Vegetable Gardening, Watering Efficiently
A white bug on a green leaf.

Media Alert: UF/IFAS Experts to Host Pasture Mealybug Webinar on July 17

by Jamie Groh
July 13, 2026

What: Experts from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are hosting an informational webinar on the invasive pasture ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agricultural Pest Management, Agricultural Webinar, Blog Community, Crop Protection, Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Entomology, FDACS, Featured, Featured Hot Topic, Florida, Florida Agriculture, Florida Extension, Florida Farmers, Forage Grasses, Forages, Insecticide Options, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sceinces, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Invasive Pasture Mealybug, Invasive Pests, Invasive Species, Livestock Production, Mealybug Identification, Pasture Management, Pasture Mealybug, Pasture Mealybug Webinar, Pasture Pest Control, Sugarcane Pests, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida
Featured image: Adobe Stock File 291720491: Fallen tree hurricane tornado storm devastation. By Noel.

July 23: Get storm-ready at UF/IFAS workshop for HOA leaders, arborists, landscape industry, homeowners

by Lourdes Mederos
July 13, 2026

One poorly maintained tree can cause thousands of dollars in damage during a hurricane, leaving homes and neighborhoods devastated. On July 23, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is hosting “Be ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Disaster Preparation, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Arborist, Commercial Landscape, Disaster Preparation, HOA, Homeowners, Horticultural Sciences, Hurricane, Hurricane Impacts, Hurricane Preparedness, Hurricane Ready, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Landscape Management, News, Nurseries, Residential Tree Trimming, Severe Weather, Storm Damage, Tree Damage, Tree Trimming, Trees, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, University Of Florida
Flags in a row

Camp USA: Celebrating 250 Years of America

by Abbey Tharpe
July 9, 2026

Taylor County 4-H recently wrapped up its third annual Camp USA: Celebrating 250 Years of America, and this year's camp held special significance as youth took part in activities and lessons leading up to America's 250th birthday. Throughout ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Camp, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #TaylorCounty, 4-H, 4H Camp, America, America's 250th, Camp USA, Children, Florida, Summer Camp, UF/IFAS Extension, Youth

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