Category: Pests & Disease

Media Alert: UF/IFAS Experts to Host Pasture Mealybug Webinar on July 17

by Jamie Groh
July 13, 2026

What: Experts from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are hosting an informational webinar on the invasive pasture ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agricultural Pest Management, Agricultural Webinar, Blog Community, Crop Protection, Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Entomology, FDACS, Featured, Featured Hot Topic, Florida, Florida Agriculture, Florida Extension, Florida Farmers, Forage Grasses, Forages, Insecticide Options, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sceinces, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Invasive Pasture Mealybug, Invasive Pests, Invasive Species, Livestock Production, Mealybug Identification, Pasture Management, Pasture Mealybug, Pasture Mealybug Webinar, Pasture Pest Control, Sugarcane Pests, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida

Scientists try to limit nasty tomato disease from spreading via grower spraying

by Brad Buck
July 7, 2026

Bacterial spot disease isn’t just a nuisance for tomato growers – it’s a relentless, weather-powered villain that can ruin a field of promising fruit, threatening farm profits. When warm rains roll in and humidity hangs in the air, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS
Tags: Aerosol, Airborne, Bacterial Spot Disease, Fungicides, Gary Vallad, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Plant Pathologist, Renzo Ramírez, Spraying, Tomato Plants, Water

National survey suggests why roach infestations persist in multi-family apartment buildings, treatment options sought

by Lourdes Mederos
July 6, 2026

Cockroach infestations affect millions of U.S. households, particularly those who live in multi-family residential buildings, who made up nearly 70% of rental units in 2023. A national study, led by researchers from the University of Florida, ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Cockroach, Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Diseases, Espanol, Espanol E Inglés, German Cockroach, Johnalyn Gordon, Louisiana State University, Pest Control, Pests, U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban Development, UF IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, UF Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, University Of Florida, University Of Kentucky, Zach DeVries

As new invasive species threatens Florida pastures and sugarcane, researchers racing to manage pasture mealybug outbreak

by Meredith Bauer-Mitchell
July 6, 2026

Invasive pasture mealybug has been detected in 15 Florida counties and can rapidly kill pasture grasses, hayfields and sugarcane, causing severe crop losses. UF/IFAS scientists are studying the newly arrived pest, while emergency approval ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Pasture Mealybug

Los científicos buscan frenar la propagación de una grave enfermedad del tomate durante la fumigación

by Luz Bahder
June 12, 2026

Creado por Brad Buck, especialista sénior en relaciones públicas para UF/IFAS La mancha bacteriana no es solo un problema para los productores de tomate; es una amenaza persistente, favorecida por las condiciones climáticas, capaz de ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Aspersores, Bacteria, Bioaerosoles, Decisiones De Manejo, Día De Campo Del Tomate, Dispersion, Enfermedad, Espanol, Fitopatologia, Fumigadores, Fumigar, Gary Vallad, GCREC, Mancha Bacteriana, Partículas Suspendidas, Patógeno, Patógeno De La Mancha Bacteriana, Propagacion, Renzo Ramírez, Spanish, Tomate, Tomates, UF/IFAS

$9.5 million gift boosts UF efforts to protect cattle from disease-carrying pests

by Jamie Groh
June 10, 2026

The University of Florida announced a $9.5 million estate gift establishing the Carrie W. Earls Mosquito and Pest Eradication in Beef Cattle Fund, supporting work across UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and College ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Livestock, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agricultural Research, Biting Flies, Blog Community, Cattle Research, College Of Veterinary Medicine, Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Donor Gift, Entomology, Entomology And Nematology, Extension, Featured, Florida Agriculture, Livestock Health, Livestock Producers, Mosquitoes, News, Pest Management, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, Veterinary Medicine

El okra pasa de ser un alimento básico en cocinas y huertos caseros a convertirse en parte fundamental del movimiento “La Comida como Medicina” en la agricultura de Florida

by Luz Bahder
May 28, 2026

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. ¿Qué hace que el okra, conocido también como quimbombó, sea una elección inteligente para los huertos caseros, las ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agricultura, Alimentacion, Alimentos, Caracoles, Centro De Investigación Y Educación Tropical (TREC) De UF/IFAS, Chicharrita De Dos Manchas Del Algodón, Cultivo, Dakshina Seal, Demanda De Okra, Entomologia, Espanol, Germinación, Gusanos Cogolleros, Hortalizas, Huertos Caseros, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, La Comida Como Medicina, Manejo Integrado De Plagas, Monalisa Seaton, Mosca Blanca De Alas Plateadas, Okra, Produccion Comercial, Programa De Extensión De UF/IFAS, Pulgones, Quimbombó, Rendimientos, Salud, Saludable, Spanish, TREC, UF/IFAS, Valor Nutricional

Is okra rising from a kitchen, home garden staple to a ‘Food is Medicine’ star in Florida agriculture?

by Lourdes Mederos
May 26, 2026

What makes okra a smart choice for home gardens, healthier meals and Florida’s next great crop? University of Florida researchers from the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) say this adaptable crop illustrates how ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, , Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Antioxidants, Ask IFAS, Crop, Dakshina Seal, Digestion, Easy To Grow, Espanol, Farmers, Florida, Food Is Medicine, Gardens, Health, Health Benefits, Healthy, Heart Health, Homestead, IFAS, Invasive Pests, Kitchen, Monalisa Seaton, Nutrition, Okra, Ornamental Plants, Peyton Ecklund, Plant-based Foods, Seed-borne Diseases, Seeds, South Florida, Staple, Tropical Research And Education Center, Two-spotted Leafhopper, UF/IFAS Research, Vitamins, Xiaoying Li

Los productores de fresas de todo el país confían en los fitopatólogos de la UF para obtener diagnósticos de enfermedades rápidos y precisos; la marchitez por Fusarium es la más reciente

by Luz Bahder
May 21, 2026

Creado por Brad Buck, especialista sénior en relaciones públicas para UF/IFAS Los cultivadores de fresas de todo el país no solo se dedican a cuidar sus campos; a menudo, también compiten en una carrera silenciosa contra enfermedades ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Crops, Farm Management, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agricultura, Antracnosis, Botrytis, Centro De Diagnóstico Vegetal, Clínica, Clínica De Diagnóstico De Enfermedades Vegetales Del NFREC, Diagnostico, Enfermedades, Espanol, Fitopatólogos, Fresas, Fusarium, Marchitez Por Fusarium, Neopestalotiopsis, Pudriciones De Corona, Sistema De Asesoramiento Para Fresas, Spanish

Strawberry producers nationwide rely on UF plant pathologists for fast, accurate, disease diagnoses; Fusarium wilt is latest

by Brad Buck
May 21, 2026

Strawberry growers across the country aren’t just tending fields – they’re often running a quiet race against fast-moving plant diseases. When trouble strikes, their first call is often to the plant pathologists at the Gulf Coast Research ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS
Tags: Anthracnose, Botrytis, Crown Rots, Diagnosis, Diseases, Fusarium Wilt, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Marcus Marin, Mathews Paret, Natalia Peres, Neopestalotiopsis, North Florida Research And Education Center, Plant Diagnostic Center, Plant Pathology, Southwest Florida Research And Education Center, Strawberries, Strawberry Advisory System, Tropical Research And Education Center

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