What: Hemp Field Day, presented by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).
When: Aug. 13, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: The UF/IFAS Plant Science Research and Education Unit, 2556 Co. Hwy. 318, Citra.
About: Join UF/IFAS researchers, Extension agents and doctoral students at a free field day, as they share research advancements and best practices related to the production of hemp, an emerging crop in Florida.
Presentations include an overview of the UF/IFAS Hemp Nutrition Program and information about nitrogen fertilizer sources, the use of living mulch as a weed suppressant and how drones are being used to monitor crop performance. Attendees can network with experts. A field tour and a complimentary lunch are included.
Hemp, or Cannabis sativa, is legal to cultivate and process in Florida with Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) licensing. Although the plant can be used to make marijuana, hemp contains only trace amounts of psychoactive chemicals, and it is used for textiles, building materials, seed oil and essential oil.
The UF/IFAS hemp pilot project began in 2019, and it is funded by FDACS and industry partners. Research takes place in fields and within controlled environments at UF/IFAS facilities across the state and on private farms with project partners. Efforts include assessment of the crop, cropping systems and their ecological and economic impacts. The goal is to support the future viability and sustainability of the hemp industry.
Register for the field day online.
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ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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