By:
Chuck Woods (352) 392-1773 x 281

KISSIMMEE—Three interdisciplinary faculty teams in the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) were honored for outstanding contributions in research and extension at the Florida Association of Extension Professionals conference in Kissimmee, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 30.

The awards were presented to the faculty by Christine Waddill, UF/IFAS dean for extension, and Everett Emino, UF/IFAS assistant dean for research.

RESEARCH AND EXTENSION AWARD

In the combined research and extension category, four faculty were honored for their work on controlling anthracnose disease on leatherleaf and other ferns, some of the state’s most valuable ornamental crops. When the devastating fungal disease was first detected in Florida in 1993, David Norman, Robert Stamps, James Strandberg and Linda Landrum worked closely with the cut foliage industry and the Florida Fern Growers Association (FFGA) to develop new diagnostic and treatment methods to save the $75 million industry.

The team also served on the Leatherleaf Fern Anthracnose Task Force appointed by the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. Research results and recommendations developed by the team were presented at numerous grower meetings and published in a comprehensive 68-page Fern Anthracnose Management Guide.

“Had it not been for the extraordinary teamwork of this group, the leatherleaf fern industry would have ceased to exist,” said FFGA President Ivy J. King. As a result of the team’s five-year effort, growers are now able to market high-quality, disease-free cut foliage to worldwide customers, she said.

Norman, assistant professor of plant pathology, and Stamps, professor of environmental horticulture, are at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (REC) in Apopka; Strandberg, professor of plant pathology, is at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida REC in Sanford. Landrum is an extension agent with the UF/IFAS Volusia County Extension Service in DeLand. They were nominated for the award by Don Hopkins, professor of plant pathology at the Apopka center, and Betty Vernon, Volusia County extension director.

RESEARCH AWARD

In the research category, five UF/IFAS faculty were honored for their pioneering work on the value of silicon fertilization in agriculture, particularly for rice and sugarcane production in South Florida. Jose Alvarez, Lawrence Datnoff, Christopher Deren, Thomas Kucharek and George Snyder have found that silicon provides highly effective control of certain rice diseases.

They demonstrated that use of silicon reduces the need for fungicides, and the residual effects of this element one year later provide effective disease control comparable to the application of fungicides. The team also found this element could enhance control of the two most important rice diseases in the world — blast and sheath blight. In the case of rice cultivars that are partially resistant to these diseases, the use of silicone makes them completely resistant.

The research, highlighted at the Silicon in Agriculture Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Sept. 26-30, is helping domestic rice growers as well as those around the world. Because of this work at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade, many universities are now using silicon fertilization or studying its use on rice and many other crops, including fescue, rye, sugarcane and wheat.

Alvarez, professor of agricultural economics; Datnoff, professor of plant pathology; Deren, professor of agronomy/breeding, and George Snyder, distinguished professor of soil science, are based at the UF/IFAS center in Belle Glade. Kucharek, professor of plant pathology, is at the UF in Gainesville. They were nominated for the award by Van Waddill, director of the Belle Glade center.

Soil scientists and plant pathologists from Brazil, Colombia, India and Russia are also working with the UF/IFAS research team.

EXTENSION AWARD

In the extension category, faculty on the South Florida Beef Forage Program were honored for their work in helping beef cattle producers solve problems in DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Okeechobee, Pasco, Polk and Sarasota counties. All of the group’s extension education efforts promote production practices that increase net economic returns and protect the environment. Counties in the group account for 46 percent (468,000) of all beef cattle in Florida (l,0l0,000).

The group uses various teaching methods and programs, focusing on forage varieties, weed control, insect control and stored forages (hay, ammoniation, silage). The Beef Cattle Reproductive Management School, now in its 16th year, helps producers understand breeding and management and improves their ability to work with veterinarians. The Forage Pasture and Management School helps producers feed their livestock in ways that are both economical and environmentally compatible. Similar extension education programs help them understand and deal with changing environmental regulations and improve their ability to manage land and natural resources.

The South Florida Beef Forage Program Web site draws hits from across the state and nation: http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~sfbfp/beef.html

County extension faculty honored include Lockie Gary, Hardee County extension director, Wauchula; Pat Hogue, Highlands County extension director, Sebring; Doug Mayo, Polk County livestock agent, Bartow; Jennifer Myers, Sarasota County livestock agent, Sarasota; Travis Seawright, Manatee County livestock/dairy agent, Palmetto; Jim Selph, DeSoto County extension director, Arcadia; James Stice, Pasco County livestock agent, Dade City; Ed Jennings, Sumter County livestock agent, Bushnell; Charlie Williams, Osceola County extension director, Kissimmee.

Extension faculty specialists honored include Martin Adjei, forage agronomist at the Range Cattle Research and Education Center (REC), Ona; John Arthington, beef cattle specialist at the Ona center; Bill Brown, beef cattle specialist, Ona; Carol Chambliss, forage specialist, Gainesville; Mike Fanning, beef cattle specialist at the Southwest Florida REC, Immokalee; Bill Kunkle, beef cattle specialist, Gainesville; Willard Lemaster, integrated resource management coordinator, Gainesville; Jeff Mullahey, range scientist, Southwest Florida REC, Immokalee; Findlay Pate, center director, Ona; Jack Rechcigl, soil scientist, Ona; Bob Sand, beef specialist, Gainesville. They were nominated for the award by Marilyn Norman, extension director for district four.

-30-

0