Tag: water quality

close-up picture of someone holding soil in their hands with blurred unplanted field in background

Compost on the Farm: Expanding Growers’ Use of Composting Best Practices

by Yvette Goodiel
October 13, 2026

Introduction From July 2025 until June 2026, UF/IFAS Extension Martin County received Ag Best Management Practices (BMP) Mini-Grant funding to expand grower use of compost BMPs, including compost and soil health testing. Grant co-leads were ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, UF/IFAS Extension, , Water
Tags: 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 library building is shown in the background, with a border of shrubs, grasses, and trees in the foreground.

FFL in Martin County: Hoke Library

by Yvette Goodiel
October 8, 2026

Introduction Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM (FFL) promotes nine principles to protect water resources in designing and maintaining landscapes. The practices can be applied at scales ranging from individual yards to parks to communities. ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Commercial Horticulture Digest, Environment, Ffl In Martin County, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Green Industry, Martin County, UF/IFAS Extension, Water Quality
Aerial view of the Indian River Lagoon showing winding waterways and mangrove islands, with a small boat traveling through calm water.

Celebrate National Estuaries Week and the Indian River Lagoon

by Holly Abeels
September 21, 2026

National Estuaries Week is celebrated every year during the last full week of September. In 2026, it takes place September 20-26. This special week recognizes the important role estuaries play in supporting wildlife, local economies, and coastal ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Coastal Ecosystems, Environment, Estuaries, Florida Sea Grant, Indian River Lagoon, Water Quality
Children and an adult plant a young tree togethr in a shaded park, placing the root ball into the soil beneath mature trees.

A Tree Is an Investment in Your Home and Health

by Margaret Stewart
September 18, 2026

A healthy tree is much more than a pretty part of the yard. Trees provide shade, lower energy costs, manage rainwater, support wildlife and improve air quality. They may also increase property value and support our physical and mental health. These ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Air Quality, Carbon Dioxide Reduction, Carbon Storage, Climate Resilience, Energy Savings, Environmental Benefits, Florida Gardening, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening In The Panhandle, Home Landscaping, Mental Health, Native Trees, Northwest Florida, Okaloosa County, Panhandle Gardening, Physical Health, Pollinators, Property Value, Shade Trees, Stormwater Management, Sustainable Landscaping, Tree Benefits, Trees, UF/IFAS Extension, Urban Forestry, Water Quality, Wildlife Habitat
Dense green mangrove trees line a calm waterway, with their reflection mirrored on the still water beneath a clear blue sky.

Mangroves: Nature’s Coastal Defenders and Climate Champions

by Holly Abeels
August 25, 2026

From protecting communities during storms to helping combat climate change, mangroves provide some of the most valuable ecosystem services on Earth. Understanding these benefits highlights why protecting and restoring mangrove forests is important ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Coastal Habitat, Conservation, Environment, Featured, Florida Sea Grant, Resiliency, Water Quality, Wildlife

Weekly “What is it?”: Carpenter Creek Headwaters Park

by Carrie Stevenson
July 16, 2026

If you want to truly solve a problem, it’s always best to go back to the original source. Piecemeal fixes can patch things up for a while, but they won’t last. For well over 70 years, Escambia County and the City of Pensacola have dealt ... READ MORE

Category: Natural Resources
Tags: Ecotourism, Estuaries, Habitat Conservation, Hiking, Native Plants, Panhandle Outdoors, Pensacola Bay, Stormwater, Water Quality, Weekly What Is It
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

Subscribe For More Great Content

IFAS Blogs Categories