UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County -

Seaweed aquaculture in Florida? A farmer’s perspective.

by Angela Collins
December 3, 2025

Global seaweed production is currently at an all time high (World Bank, 2023; FAO, 2024). Almost all of that production occurs in Asia. The small amount that does occur in the US is restricted to cold water species, like the kelps of New England ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Aquaculture, Clams, Florida Sea Grant, Macroalgae, Seaweed, Shellfish, Tampa Bay

Hydration: The Quiet Super Power of Wellness

by Nelly Nelson
April 30, 2026

When we think of a wellness routine, exercise, balanced nutrition, and meditation often take center stage. Yet one of the simplest acts a glass of water reveals a quiet super‑power. Water is not just a neutral backdrop; it is a vital solvent, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Camp, , Clubs & Volunteers, Coasts & Marine, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Recreation
Tags: Dehydration, Fluids Intake, Hydration, Mental Clarity, Physical Performance

Liverworts (The Ancient “Weed” Living in Your Pots)

by Caitlin Sollazzo
April 23, 2026

I was looking through some nursery cuttings when I noticed something growing across the surface of the media - liverwort. My first thought was, man, I forgot how cool liverworts are. I’ve learned about them in ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Crops, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Commercial Horticulture, Liverwort, Manatee County Extension

Webspinners

by Caitlin Sollazzo
March 23, 2026

Webspinners (order Embioptera) are one of the most overlooked and fascinating insect groups on the planet. Despite their small size and secretive habits, they are more common here in Florida than most people realize, especially due to our subtropical, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Conservation, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Bugsarecool, Embiidina, Embioptera, Webspinner

Sugarcane Mosaic Virus Found in New Counties

by Michelle Atkinson
January 27, 2026

In November 2014, Sugarcane Mosaic Virus (SCMV) was discovered in southeast Florida and Pinellas County where it seemed to stay. In the past few years, however, the virus has spread. It is now confirmed in counties in North, Central, and South ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn
Tags: Lawn, Lethal Viral Necrosis, LVN, Sugarcane Mosaic, Swprohort, Turf Disease, Turf Fungus

A Tale of Three Daddy Long Legs

by Caitlin Sollazzo
December 17, 2025

I feel like it’s time to clear up a few common misconceptions. I recently acquired a pet daddy long legs because I have free will, and I use it to the fullest. If you’re in the entomology or arthropod world like me, you probably already ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Arachnology, DaddyLongLegs, Entomology, Manatee County Extension, SpiderMyths

Leafy Oak Gall

by Caitlin Sollazzo
December 8, 2025

Oak galls are one of my favorite examples of how complex plant–insect interactions can be. If you’ve ever walked past an oak tree and noticed odd growths (round, leafy, fuzzy, spiky, or shaped like little apples) you’ve seen the work of ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Leafy Oak Gall, Oak Gall

Highlights From the 2025 Manatee County Farm City Week Agricultural Tour

by Caitlin Sollazzo
November 21, 2025

A huge thank-you to everyone who joined us for the 34th Annual Farm City Week Agricultural Tour. We had a full bus, a full schedule, and a full day of learning, connecting, and experiencing agriculture firsthand. Thank you to every operation ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: A.P. Bell Fish Co., Manatee Farms, Orban's Nursery, Palma Sola Botanical Park, West Coast Tomato

Porterweed Rust

by Caitlin Sollazzo
November 13, 2025

Sometimes nature can be quite beautiful. This is rust (Puccinia urbaniana) infecting native porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis). If you look closely, you can even see tiny fly larvae feeding on the spores of the rust fungus.Rust is a type ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Florida Friendly Landscape, Horticulture, Manatee County, Manatee County Extension

UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County 2025 Farm City Week Agricultural Tour: Keeping Agriculture Alive in 2025.

by Caitlin Sollazzo
October 31, 2025

The 34th Annual Farm City Week Agricultural Tour in Manatee County is a fun-filled, day-long, chartered bus tour that will take place on Friday, November 14, 2025 from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. Attendees will get a rare opportunity to go behind-the-scenes ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, , Coasts & Marine, Disaster Preparation, Events, Farm Management, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: AP Bell, ManateeFarms, Orban's, WestCoastTomato

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