Tag: water

Southern scientists use artificial intelligence to reduce costs, labor on farms

by Brad Buck
March 9, 2026

Scientists throughout the South are using artificial intelligence (AI) to help growers save labor costs and time, spray with precision, detect diseases, control food quality, maintain animal health and help grow wheat.   University of Florida ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture
Tags: Agricultural And Biological Engineering, Agroview, Arnold Schumann, Citrus Research And Education Center, Daniel Lee, Drones, Fort Valley State University, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Land-grant Universities, Nathan Boyd, Oklahoma State University, Precision Ag, Precision Agriculture, Precision Weed-spraying, Soil, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Southwest Florida Research And Education Center, Strawberries, Tree Canopy, University Of Georgia, Variable-rate Fertilizer, Virginia Tech, Water, Yiannis Ampatzidis

‘Cutting-edge science’ from UF/IFAS Extension helps farmer preserve water, other parts of his ecosystem

by Brad Buck
March 9, 2026

For about 20 years, Colin Furness and his family have bred and raised miniature cattle and donkeys, and specialized in getting people started with their own herd of mini livestock. They raise registered Herefords, Florida Cracker cattle and ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture
Tags: Cattle, Cost Share, Dyllan Furness, Farm, Fencing, Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services, Jonael Bosques, Peace River, Sowing Sustainability, Tropical Soda Apple, UF/IFAS Extension Hardee County, Water, Water Preservation, Water Quality, Wetlands

Should You Water Your Trees?

by Julia Sirchia
May 7, 2026

Mature Trees   Mature trees, especially older ones, develop an extensive network of roots and can survive on rainfall exclusively. Some of these roots run very deep, which is why supplemental watering is usually unnecessary. Most mature shrubs ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Water
Tags: Drought, Dry Season, Efficient Irrigaiton, Home Landscape, In Times Of Drought, Irrigation, Rainfall, Shrubs, Trees, Water, Water Conservation, Water Restrictions

Maintaining Landscapes and Trees in Drought Conditions

by Julia Sirchia
May 7, 2026

Ideally, the requirements of a tree/shrub (or any plant for that matter) should align with the conditions of the planting site (right plant, right place). When a plant's growing needs are matched to the environmental conditions, you may notice ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Water
Tags: Drought, Home Landscape, Horticulture, In Times Of Drought, Landscapes, Tree, Water, Water Restrictions
Two people in a field working with a device, surrounded by crops and wooden stakes, under a clear sky.

UF/IFAS Extension helps Southwest Florida by reducing water use on farm by 40%

by Brad Buck
March 9, 2026

Sakata Seed America Inc. shares the same water as urban residents in Southwest Florida. So, farm manager Cory Dombrowski wanted to see if he could irrigate more efficiently at the research farm east of Fort Myers. He did. With the help of ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation
Tags: App, Cory Dombrowski, Cost-share Program, Craig Frey, Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services, Fort Myers, Nutrient Savings, Research Farm, Sakata Seed Inc., Saving, Soil Moisture Sensor, Southwest Florida, Sowing Sustainability, Vegetable Extension Agent, Water, Water Savings
Two men talking among rows of tomato plants supported by poles.

Florida farms reduce water use by 25% with simple change in crop beds

by Brad Buck
March 9, 2026

Lipman Family Farms wanted to mitigate flood risk associated with heavy rain on their 2,000-acre farm in Naples. As general manager, Lucas Conran helps oversee seven farming operations for Lipman in Florida and other states along the East ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Farm Management
Tags: Agricultural And Biological Engineering, Compact-bed Geometry, Environmental Stewardship, Flood Mitigation, Flooding, Labor, Lipman Family Farms, Lucas Conran, Nutrients, Sanjay Shukla, Soil, Southwest Florida Research And Education Center, Sowing Sustainability, Tomatoes, Water, Water Savings
A person adjusting a garden sprinkler on a green lawn, with water spray visible.

UF study shows about 40% of residents don’t know they must follow irrigation restrictions

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

About 22 million people already live in Florida, and it’s expected to grow to 33 million by 2070. Those who irrigate lawns tap into the same water, much of it from the Floridan aquifer. Many cities and counties, and all water management ... READ MORE

Category: Natural Resources, Water
Tags: Agricultural Education And Communication, Behavior, Cities, Compliance, Counties, Floridan Aquifer, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Homeowners, Homeowners Associations, Irrigation, John Diaz, Laura Warner, Mandatory, Residential Irrigation, Restrictions, Utilities, Voluntary, Water, Water Management Districts
A partially flooded agricultural field with rows of green plants.

UF scientists to develop AI technology to help growers assess crop damage after hurricanes

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

Imagine using a generative AI platform similar to ChatGPT to get crop-damage information after a hurricane. That’s what University of Florida artificial intelligence (AI) scientist Nikolaos Tziolas plans to provide to farmers statewide. With ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops
Tags: Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Computers, Crop Damage, Damage Assessment, Generative AI, Hurricanes, Nifa, NIFA Grant, Nikolaos Tziolas, Prec-ag, Recovery, Satellite, Satellite Imagery, Smartphone, Soil, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Southwest Florida Research And Education Center, Water
A satellite orbiting above the illuminated night side of Earth in space.

Thanks to NASA, farmers may ask, ‘Hey Alexa, what’s the best way to keep my soil healthy?’

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

Someday soon, farmers might use technology equivalent to Siri or Alexa to check the status of their soil’s quality. Anastasia Kritharoula, a doctoral student in the Soil Science Artificial Intelligence lab of the University of Florida, ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Anastasia Kritharoula, Artificial Intelligence, Farmers, Generative AI, Grant, NASA, Nikolaos Tziolas, Non-expert Users, Prec-ag, Soil, Soil Health, Soil Science Artificial Intelligence Lab, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Southwest Florida Research And Education Center, Water
Dense cluster of green and yellow bamboo stalks with glossy green leaves.

From citrus to bamboo? Some growers might move to this crop with a multibillion-dollar worldwide market

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

With a global market valued at nearly $67 billion, bamboo may offer an alternative crop for some Florida growers reeling from a devastated citrus crop, says a University of Florida expert. “Bamboo is a good alternative crop to diversify ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture
Tags: Alternative Crops, Bamboo, Citrus, Citrus Research And Education Center, Clumbing Bamboo, Construction, Davie Kadyampakeni, Food, Furniture, Low Invasion, Michael Rogers, Pests, Soil, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Water

Subscribe For More Great Content

IFAS Blogs Categories