Protein: How Much Is Enough? (8/19/2026) - Walk through almost any grocery store today and you will see one word everywhere: protein. Protein packed cereals, bars, shakes, yogurts and even desserts have become increasingly popular. Social media has taken the trend even further with “protein maxxing,” the idea that more protein is always better. But how much protein do we really need?… more
Farmers, ranchers: Free Aug. 26 workshop offers financial planning, from balance sheets to USDA loans (8/18/2026) - Whether expanding a farming or ranch operation, preparing for tax season or applying for a loan, producers need strategic financial planning to keep the business productive, profitable and sustainable. Today’s agribusiness operators must be well-versed in a range of financial skills. To support these efforts, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences… more
NCBS Intern Report: GIS Support for Levy County — Quinn Callaghan (8/17/2026) - Written by Quinn Callaghan, 2026 Undergraduate Summer Intern My Summer Working with Levy County Emergency Management Having spent my entire life in Florida, I’ve repeatedly watched the rebuilding process that occurs after natural disasters. As I’ve become interested in pursuing a career in public service, I’ve felt drawn to emergency management as I know… more
Back-to-School Meals and Snacks: Part 2 – Decoding the Nutrition Facts Label (8/17/2026) - Understanding the Nutrition Facts Label Picture this: You are at the grocery store with only 20 minutes to grab everything you need to select your ingredients for the week. You've got your grocery list ready to go, but are feeling unsure about the nutritional value of the foods or drinks you are selecting. You glance… more
Los árboles más resistentes de la llanura costera (8/14/2026) - Hace unas décadas un grupo de investigadores de University of Florida llevó a cabo un estudio para evaluar el efecto de diez huracanes en los bosques costeros: Andrew (1992), Erin (1995), Opal (1995), Georges (1998), Ivan (2004), Jeanne (2004), Charley (2004), Rita (2005), Dennis (2005) y Katrina (2005). Como resultado, los expertos obtuvieron listas de… more
Potential Funding Opportunity in Franklin County and Beyond (8/14/2026) - Local seafood industry businesses may qualify for small business loans through the Apalachee Regional Planning Council (ARPC). Created in the late 1980s, the goal of the loan program is to expand the economy in Franklin County and provide opportunities for small businesses in our area. The loan could be used for equipment, gear, or even… more
Florida Land Steward Update, August 14, 2026 (8/14/2026) - FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA LANDOWNERS THROUGH THE SURFACE TO SPRINGS AND FOREST TO GULF REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS (RCPPs) Apply by September 30, 2026 North Florida landowners interested habitat management and conservation can apply for conservation easements and land management financial assistance opportunities in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),… more
Back-to-School Meals and Snacks: Part 1 – Keeping Nutrition in Mind (8/13/2026) - Welcome to the Back-to-School Season! Back-to-school time can be an exciting time, as we jump back into our typical routine, but it can also be quite overwhelming. From school supplies to clothes to meals and snacks. If you're feeling overwhelmed about what to pack for school lunches… more
Getting Kids in the Kitchen (8/10/2026) - Learn how to cook, try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all, have fun! - Julia Child Childhood is an important time for developing healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime. Hands-on food preparation activities can help children build cooking skills, broaden their palates, and gain confidence in exploring new… more
A Parent’s Guide to a Smooth Re Start: Making the First Day Back in Elementary School a Real Success (8/7/2026) - Get the Mental Game Readied Parents set the emotional tone for their children before they even step out the front door. The research on early‑year parental engagement is clear: when parents participate in the first‑week “look‑around” activities, students show a measurable uptick in excitement and less hesitation at home reading. A quick chat about the… more
Visit Our Bug Bungalows (8/7/2026) - Bugs are an incredibly important part of the environment. Many pollinate plants, including fruits like berries and melons, help make the soil healthier by breaking down leaves, wood, and other organic matter, serve as food for wildlife like fish and birds, and they can also eat pesky bugs in the home and garden. To celebrate… more
Florida Land Steward Update, August 7, 2026 (8/7/2026) - SUMMER-FALL 2026 ISSUE OF QUARTERLY FLORIDA LAND STEWARD NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE In this issue: Need Equipment or Herbicides? Check out the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Private Lands Tool Cache, Hurricane Season is Here. Are you Ready?, Forest Management Examples at your Fingertips: Showcasing the Southeast Silviculture Library, Conservation Florida's Private Lands Stewardship Program… more
Identifying Florida Lawn Weeds (8/6/2026) - The definition of a weed is any plant that is unwanted in your yard or garden. There are three types of weeds: broadleaf, grasses, and sedges. Identifying the weed type will assist in weed control methods. Broadleaf Weeds Broadleaf Weeds are those that have, as the name indicates, a wide leaf and grow from a… more
Florida Weeds to Grow (Some are Great Butterfly Plants) (8/6/2026) - A weed is a plant in an unwanted place. However, this depends on your point of view! Sometimes we are surprised that these weeds are host plants for butterflies. Host plants provide food for the caterpillars of these butterflies. Here are four host plants often seen as weeds. Tropical Buckeye Butterfly Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) is… more
Mental Health First Aid: Building the Skills to Support Someone in Need (8/6/2026) - Sometimes, the moments that matter most begin with something small—a simple question, a compassionate conversation, or noticing when someone does not seem like themselves. While we may not always know what someone is going through, small moments of awareness and kindness can help create a pathway toward support. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a… more
Back-to-School Nutrition: Fueling Students for Success (8/6/2026) - As summer comes to an end, families are busy checking off school supply lists, organizing backpacks, and settling back into school routines. While notebooks and pencils are essential for learning, one of the most valuable school supplies isn’t found in the school aisle—it’s good nutrition. The foods and beverages children consume each day play an… more
Growing Through Experience: My Internship Journey with UF/IFAS Extension & Sustainability Sarasota County (8/6/2026) - Hi, I’m Kate Sweeney, and during the summer of 2026, I had the opportunity to serve as an Environmental Education and Outreach Intern for the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, with both the Sustainability and Ecology and Natural Resources and programs. When I moved to Sarasota County four years ago, I was immediately impressed by its… more
Back-to-School Anxiety: Helping Your Child Start the School Year with Confidence (8/5/2026) - The beginning of a new school year brings excitement, new opportunities, and fresh starts. It also brings uncertainty. Whether your child is starting kindergarten, moving to a new school, entering middle or high school, or simply returning after summer break, feeling nervous is completely normal. Parents may experience some of those same emotions, too. The… more
Preparing for the 2026 Hurricane Season: Lessons Learned and Practical Tips (8/3/2026) - On July 23, 2026, UF/IFAS Miami-Dade Extension, in partnership with the National Weather Service and industry experts, hosted Hurricane Preparation 2026, a workshop designed to help homeowners, landscape professionals, and community leaders prepare for the hurricane season. The program starts with "Lessons We Learned from the Last Hurricane Seasons," presented by Henry Mayer (UF/IFAS Miami-Dade… more
Preparing for a Healthy and Successful School Year (8/3/2026) - Summer break is quickly ending, and a new school year is right around the corner. While this time of the year can be stressful for both parents and children, preparation is the key to helping children start the school year strong. Ways to support a healthy start to the school year for children include: Scheduling a well-child visit with their healthcare provider Ensuring immunizations are up to date Attending school open house to meet teachers Developing a consistent nighttime… more
Happy National Intern Day, July 30th! (8/3/2026) - Meet our 2026 Summer Interns! We’re thrilled to welcome our new interns, Kate Sweeney and Felicity Ruiz. They have brought fresh energy and ideas to our programs. You can learn more about them below. We have an exciting lineup of activities planned, including workshops, and community events. These opportunities are designed to help youth explore… more
The Med Way: Step 2 – Swap Your Fats (7/31/2026) - The Mediterranean Diet (the Med Way) is a long-standing, recommended approach to balanced eating that supports optimal health and chronic disease prevention. The Med Way centers around seven simple eating tips. Last month, we explored Step #1: Changing Your Protein. Now let's take a closer look at Step #2. Tip # 2: Swap Your Fats… more
Resistant Starch in Pasta and Potato Salads (7/31/2026) - Summer is winding down, but our favorite summer dishes remain. When we gather for barbeques to celebrate independence under a sky of fireworks or simply for pool parties to beat the heat, the most sought-after summer dishes in my family are the pasta and potato salads. They bring us not only joy, but also good… more
Water Wednesday Recap: Understanding Florida Homes (7/31/2026) - Florida's heat and humidity can be challenging, especially for homeowners who are new to the state. During our July Water Wednesday webinar, Understanding Florida Homes: Humidity, Mold, and Energy Use, Lisa Hamilton, UF/IFAS Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Volusia County and Associate Program Leader for Housing Education, shared practical, research-based tips to help… more
UF/IFAS Professor Retires: Jeffrey Williamson on Florida Blueberries and Mentorship (7/29/2026) - “The very fact that we’re growing blueberries at all is because of UF/IFAS. If we didn’t have those varieties, we wouldn’t be growing blueberries commercially. The breeding program is really what turned blueberries into an important crop for Florida.” - Dr. Jeffrey Williamson, Professor at the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department.One of the first blueberry field… more
Take the Edge on Your School‑Supply Bill: Florida Tax‑Savvy Tips for Parents (7/28/2026) - Back-to-school season means back‑to‑budget season, especially in Latin America and the Southwestern parts of the United States where the school year starts right after Labor Day. Did you know that the timing of your purchases and where you buy them can make a measurable dent in the overall cost? Let’s break down the Florida‑specific rules and… more
Film Screening and Panel Discussion to Explore Hurricane Recovery and Community Resilience in Cedar Key (7/27/2026) - Documentary short and community conversation highlight how Florida's coastal communities adapt, recover, and rebuild after repeated storms GAINESVILLE, Fla. (September 1, 2026) – The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS), a partner program of the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (PIE Center), in collaboration with University… more
Chickpeas – A healthy legume (7/27/2026) - Do you like hummus or falafels? If yes, then you enjoy chickpeas, which continue to grow in popularity as a food and snack choice. A program participant told me this week that she loves to snack on crisp chickpeas made in her air fryer. What are chickpeas? Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are a… more
Más allá de los útiles escolares: una experta de UF/IFAS ofrece ideas de comidas saludables y económicas que puede preparar en minutos (7/27/2026) - Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Aunque el verano sigue en pleno apogeo, ya empiezan a verse las primeras señales del nuevo año escolar. Los anuncios sobre el regreso a clases inundan los medios y las tiendas están repletas de mochilas, útiles escolares y… more
Beyond school supplies: UF/IFAS expert shares healthy, affordable meal plans you can prepare in minutes (7/27/2026) - While summer is still in full swing, signs of the new school year are already here. Back-to-school commercials are filling the airwaves, and stores are stocked with backpacks, classroom supplies and clothing as parents begin checking items off their shopping lists. One of the biggest back-to-school challenges for parents often starts in the kitchen. How… more
Medicare Made Clear: Educational Webinars (7/24/2026) - Are you approaching retirement, helping a loved one navigate Medicare, or reviewing your current coverage? These webinars can help you better understand your options and make informed decisions. Webinar Details Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (EST) Cost: Free Note: Attendance at all sessions is not required. Please register separately for each webinar you plan… more
Florida Land Steward Update, July 24, 2026 (7/24/2026) - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA SEEKING NEWLY PLANTED LOBLOLLY PINE SITES IMPACTED BY DROUGHT Do you have newly planted loblolly pine trees and think they may have suffered higher than usual mortality this year? The University of Florida IFAS is investigating the survival of loblolly pines planted during the 2025-2026 drought. If you have land in Florida,… more
The Oak, the Moss, and the Fern: The Art of Living Together (7/23/2026) - Have you ever found yourself standing beneath a giant live oak and looking up? Its massive branches stretch across the sky like arms. Silvery strands of Spanish moss move along with the breeze, while clusters of green resurrection fern seem to struggle to survive attached to the bark. Together, they create one of Florida's most… more
Wildlife Watch: Seeing more armadillos this summer? UF/IFAS experts explain in this Ask IFAS bilingual guide (7/23/2026) - About this series This month’s Wildlife Watch installment spotlights the nine-banded armadillo. As residential and commercial development expands across Florida, wildlife is adapting to live closer to people and, in some cases, faces increased threats. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) shares tips through Ask IFAS Extension publications, available in… more
Descubriendo la Vida Silvestre: ¿has visto más armadillos este verano? Expertos lo explican en esta guía bilingüe de Ask IFAS (7/23/2026) - Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Acerca de esta serie La entrega de este mes de Descubriendo la Vida Silvestre destaca al armadillo de nueve bandas. A medida que el desarrollo residencial y comercial continúa expandiéndose en toda Florida, la vida silvestre se adapta… more
Back-to-School on a Budget: Smart Tips to Save Big (7/23/2026) - Back-to-School on a Budget: Smart Tips to SaveThe last week of July is here, and that means baBack-to-school shopping is in full swing. While a new school year brings excitement, it can also put a strain on the family budget. With prices on the rise and school supply lists getting longer each year, it's more… more
Fire Safety: Kitchen and Cooking Safety (7/22/2026) - With wildfires making headlines across the country, it's a good time to revisit an important topic: kitchen and cooking safety. While wildfires are a significant concern, the kitchen remains one of the most common places for fires to start in the home. Cooking fires can happen quickly and without warning, making it essential for families… more
Florida Heat Isn’t Just Hard on Your Plants—It’s Hard on You, Too (7/21/2026) - 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 here's the question: Are we paying the same attention to ourselves? Florida's heat… more
Keeping Cedar Key Clean: Join the 41st Annual International Coastal Cleanup (7/21/2026) - Cedar Key community members and visitors are invited to help protect our coast during the 41st Annual International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Cedar Key City Park. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. Organized annually by the Ocean Conservancy, the International Coastal Cleanup brings together volunteers around… more
SilvaLab Completes Summer 2026 Field Campaign to Advance Next-Generation Wildfire Science (7/20/2026) - Researchers from the University of Florida’s School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS) completed a two-week field campaign across Fish Lake National Forest, Utah, and North Kaibab National Forest, Arizona, that will advance next-generation wildfire monitoring and decision-support systems. Scientists from the Forest Biometrics, Remote Sensing and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SilvaLab) collected field and… more
Vacation Doesn’t Mean Taking a Vacation from Your Health (7/20/2026) - 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. While it's important to take a break from your daily routine, your healthy… more
Healthy Eating with Diabetes: Small Changes That Make a Big Difference (7/20/2026) - 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 of the most powerful tools for managing diabetes, reducing the risk of complications, and improving… more
What is a Trump Account? (7/20/2026) - You may have heard something in the news about a Trump Account (TA) and wondered what it’s all about. Established by the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Trump Accounts are a type of individual retirement account (IRA) for beneficiaries who are under 18. Who Qualifies? An “eligible individual” is one who is under… more
Aprenda a proteger su pozo de agua y su sistema séptico durante la temporada de tormentas con esta serie gratuita de seminarios web de UF/IFAS (7/20/2026) - Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Muchos hogares de Florida dependen de pozos privados para obtener agua potable y de sistemas sépticos para tratar las aguas residuales domésticas. Los huracanes, las inundaciones y los problemas de mantenimiento rutinario pueden afectar la seguridad y el… more
Learn to safeguard your well water, septic system for storm season with this free UF/IFAS webinar series (7/20/2026) - Many Floridians rely on private wells for drinking water and septic systems to treat household wastewater. Hurricanes, flooding and routine maintenance challenges can affect the safety and reliability of these systems. To help homeowners prepare, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Florida Well Owner Network is offering a free… more
Keeping Sarasota Cool: Equipping Sarasota for Extreme Heat Conditions (7/15/2026) - Over the last three summers, our team has interacted with residents in Sarasota County to discuss extreme heat science, safety, and conditions in our backyards. During our outreach events, we also distribute free resources such as cooling towels, cold gel packs, handheld fans, electrolyte packets, and water bottles to help people stay cool. During our… more
Potatoes: Growing Better Nutrition (7/14/2026) - My first few weeks as Putnam County’s new Rural Community Health Agent have been packed with activity. Some highlights include getting to know my new coworkers, learning about Putnam County, and providing health and nutrition lessons for youth in 4-H Cloverbuds Camp and Stars & Stripes Camp. I also got the chance to attend Potato… more
Cyclospora cayetanensis: The Microscopic Mystery Scientists Still Can’t Solve (7/14/2026) - Quick Facts Organism: Cyclospora cayetanensis.Type: Single-celled parasite.Causes: Cyclosporiasis.Common source: Contaminated fresh produce or water.Why scientists study it: It cannot yet be reliably cultured in a laboratory, making it one of microbiology's ongoing research challenges. Scientists can detect it, study its DNA and investigate outbreaks. So why can't they easily grow it in the lab? Imagine… more
Hurricane Preparedness Starts at Home (7/13/2026) - Hurricane Preparedness Starts at Home Since hurricane season is here, now is the time to prepare your family, home, and finances for potential storms. Living in Florida means that hurricanes and tropical storms are a reality, but taking simple steps before a storm develops can help reduce stress and protect what matters most. Build an… more
Day in the Life: Nicholas Ranalletta, Nutritional Sciences and Pre-Dental Undergraduate Student (7/13/2026) - We're thrilled to welcome you back to our Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN): Day in the Life series! This series is part of our innovative UF/FSHN Careers Advancement Project (CAP), which captures what it's really like to earn degrees in food science, nutritional sciences, and dietetics. This project can help you discover your career… more