Category: Crops

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

Thrips parvispinus Management

by Caitlin Sollazzo
July 23, 2025

Thrips parvispinus: What We’re Learning About Management in Ornamentals A relatively new invasive pest in Florida, Thrips parvispinus, has quickly gained attention due to its ability to damage a wide range of ornamental and vegetable crops. ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Insects, Manatee County Extension, Pesticides, Thrips, UF/IFAS Extension

Living Mulch: a Guide for Vegetable Growers

by Ida VanDamme
June 19, 2025

Good soil management is critical for retaining organic matter especially with Florida’s sandy soils. Soil organic matter stores water, nutrients, and microbes--all necessary things for a healthy crop. Leaving soil bare exposes it to the ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management
Tags: Biodiversity, Cover Crops, Soils

Hydroponic Production Methods- Part 2

by David Outerbridge
May 30, 2025

Hydroponic Production Methods: A Comparative Overview of Basic Systems-Part 2 Hydroponic farming is an technology based innovation in agricultural production. These systems enable growers to produce food efficiently, utilizing nutrient water ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Hydroponics, Small Farms

Disaster Preparation Resources From UF/IFAS Extension

by David Outerbridge
May 29, 2025

Preparation Prevents Panic As the Gulf stirs and skies begin to shift with coiled serpentine collections of cloud and wind Floridians are reminded that preparedness is more than a checklist, more than a cry to the heavens, it’s a mindset. ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension

Hydroponic Production Methods-Part 1

by David Outerbridge
May 16, 2025

Hydroponic Production Methods: A Comparative Overview of Basic Systems-Part 1 Hydroponic farming is an agricultural practice that can allow you to grow plants almost anywhere. These systems enable growers to produce food efficiently, utilizing ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Hydroponics

Shop Local in Manatee County

by Nelly Nelson
April 2, 2024

Agriculture has always played a vital role in Manatee County’s economy. With more than 220,000 acres of land dedicated to agriculture production, its economic impact, which is estimated to be about $500 million, is only second to tourism. ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture, Livestock, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Agriculture, Citrus Production, Commercial Fishing, Farms, Livestock, Manatee County, Ornamental Horticulture, Shop Local, Vegetable Crops

Spring Farm Tour 2024

by Gail Somodi
March 18, 2024

The Manatee River Soil and Water Conservation District Spring Farm Tour brought over ninety participants in two charter buses to several agricultural operations in the Manatee County. Manatee River Soil and Water Conservation District board ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Livestock, Natural Resources, Water
Tags: Agriculture, Farm Tour, Soil And Water Conservation District

Complex World of Honey Bees: Colony structure

by Lisa Hickey
October 3, 2023

The complex world of honey bees is worth diving deeper into the colony to learn about their society. The Western honey bee, Apis mellifera, is the most well-known representative of the honey bee family. This medium-sized bee is responsible for ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Crops
Tags: Colony Society, Drone Bee, Honey Bees, Queen Bee, Worker Bees

Recognizing an Agriculturalist of the Year – Recommend Your Favorite Now!

by Lisa Hickey
August 11, 2023

Manatee County Farm City Week Committee is accepting applications until August 31, 2023 for the Agriculturalist of the Year and Hall of Fame Awards. Each year the Manatee County Farm City Week Committee selects two individuals in recognition ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, Livestock

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