Tag: UF/IFAS Extension Polk County

The unwelcome dust that won’t quit: Pollen season hits with full force

by Brad Buck
March 17, 2026

Brace yourselves – the sneezing, the itchy eyes, the yellow-dust-on-every-surface season is here. And for most of you, it might mean more trips to the car wash. Pollen season in Florida, which peaks from January to June, is in full bloom. ... READ MORE

Category: Forests, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes
Tags: Allergies, Alyssa Vinson, Car Wash, Catkin, Clothes, Gardening, Genetic Diversity, Laurel Oaks, Lorna Bravo, Masks, Plants, Pollen, Pollinator Friendly Plants, Shannon Carnevale, Theresa Badurek, Trees, UF/IFAS Extension Broward County, UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, Wind-pollinated, Yellow Powder

Cold snaps, wind burn, drought, stressing your landscape? UF experts available to help you detect, manage, recover

by Lourdes Mederos
February 10, 2026

After the recent cold fronts, violent winds and ongoing drought conditions, many Floridians are stepping outside and asking the same questions: Did my mango tree survive? My lawn is yellow, dry, and windburned. Will it survive with ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Agriculture, Commercial Horticulture, Environmental Horticulture Agent, Homeowners, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Landscapes, Master Gardener Program, News, Plants, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension Indian River County, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County, University Of Florida, Urban Horticulture, Urban Landscape, Weather-related Damage

Through A Land Remembered, state’s fourth graders discover harsh conditions of pioneer life in Florida

by Brad Buck
December 9, 2025

Imagine 19th century Florida: sweltering heat with no air conditioning, swarms of mosquitoes, nights lit only by campfires and the harsh reality that any meat on your plate had to be hunted and killed by you. These gritty details aren’t ... READ MORE

Category: Curriculum, UF/IFAS, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: A Land Remembered, Agriculture, Bridget Stice, English & Language Arts, Fourth-grade Students, Historical Novel, Pioneers, Social Studies And Science Learning Standards., Spook Hill Elementary School, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County

Thousands of Florida students to learn about pioneer life in Florida

by Brad Buck
October 1, 2025

Pioneer life is about to come alive for about 15,000 curious fourth-graders across Florida. As they step back in time, the young explorers will discover the grit, ingenuity and spirit that shaped the earliest days of the Sunshine State. David ... READ MORE

Category: Curriculum
Tags: 19th Century, 4th Graders, A Land Remembered, Bridget Stice, Curriculum, Daily Lessons, Environment, Farming, Florida Wildlife Corridor, Great Florida Cattle Drive, History, Kendall Gill, Livesteam, Livestock Agent, Novel, Pioneers, Ranching, Statewide, UF/IFAS Extension DeSoto County, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County

New UF/IFAS bilingual online resources help Florida farmers launch, enhance their business

by Lourdes Mederos
September 18, 2025

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension has launched a new bilingual online resource to help Florida farmers strengthen their operations through effective business planning. The websites, ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, , Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, Livestock, Pests & Disease, Turf, UF/IFAS
Tags: Aquaculture Farming, Balance Sheets, Break-even Analysis, Business Operation, Business Plan, CAFE Latino, Cash Flow, Cattle, Coalition Of Florida Extension Educators For Latinos, Farm, Farm Data, Farmer, Farming Operation, Financial Management, Food, Fruit, Grower, Human Resources, Income Statements, Luis Rodriguez, Luis Rodriguez Rosado, Marketing, News, Polk County, Small Farms, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, University Of Florida, USDA Farm Service Agency, Vegetable

UF experts bust lightning myths, share life-saving tips for Florida storm season

by Brad Buck
June 6, 2025

Crack! Boom! We’re entering the daily summer thunderstorm season in Florida. The clouds roll in and, with them, you sometimes see lightning in the distance. Then you hear thunder. With 50 deaths from 2015-2024, Florida leads the nation ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Inside, Lara Milligan, Lightning, Lightning Safety, Lightning Safety Council, Naturally Florida Podcast, Shannon Carnevale, Shelter, Trees, UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County

Familiar face promoted to interim director of Southwest Florida Extension District

by Brad Buck
January 29, 2025

A name and face familiar to those in Polk County and across the UF/IFAS Southwest Extension District has been named interim director of the district. Nicole Walker, director of UF/IFAS Extension Polk County and associate director of the Southwest ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Andra Johnson, Bridget Stice, Dean For Extension, Florida 4-H, Interim District Extension Director, Leadership, Nicole Walker, Southwest Extension District, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County

Let moderation serve as your mantra as you savor healthy foods during the holidays

by Brad Buck
December 17, 2024

During the holiday season, you’re often surrounded by a tempting array of foods – from hearty entrees to indulgent desserts. While some are good choices, others might not be so beneficial, say University of Florida experts. “While helping ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition
Tags: Andrea Nikolai, Baked Goods, Cinammon, Deviled Eggs, Fruit, Health, Healthy Holiday Meals, Holiday Meals, Maria Portelos Rometo, Reduced Sugar, Skim Milk, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, Vanilla

Power through July, aka National Blueberry Month

by Brad Buck
July 17, 2024

As we celebrate National Blueberry Month in July, a University of Florida dietitian says the fruit could be called “power berries.” “Blueberries have fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese and potassium, and they have some of the highest ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS
Tags: Andrea Nikolai, Antioxidants, Breeder, Breeding, Cutlivars, Doug Phillips, National Blueberry Month, Nutrition, Patricio Munoz, Southern Highbush Blueberry, Statewide Blueberry Extension Coordinator, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County

Starting a farming business? UF/IFAS hosts virtual English and Spanish workshops for beginners

by Lourdes Mederos
March 18, 2024

Florida farming is big business. To make it in today’s competitive market, those new to the industry need a solid business plan and the right marketing tactics to build a business from the ground up. "Agricultural operations, regardless ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Horticulture, Livestock, Money Matters, Professional Development, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Agricultural Education And Communication, Business, Business Plan, Climate, Consumer, Consumer Preferences, Consumer Reviews, Farm Operations, Farming, Farming Is A Business, Financial Planning, Human Resources, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jonael Bosques-Mendez, La Agricultura Es Un Negocio, Luis Rodriguez Rosado, Marketing, Marketing Plan, News, Research, Spanish, U.S. Department Of Agriculture, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Hardee County, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, University Of Florida

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