Category: SFYL Hot Topic

A monarch butterfly on a flower. UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones.

UF/IFAS invites Floridians of all ages to join the Great Southeast Pollinator Census Aug. 21-22

by Lourdes Mederos
August 10, 2026

What if protecting pollinators were as easy as spending 15 minutes watching a patch of flowers? On Aug. 21-22, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extensions invites Floridians of all ages to join ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Conservation, Events, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Beneficial Insects, Citizen Science, Great Southeast Pollinator Census, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Master Gardener Volunteers, Pollinator, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
AdobeStock_255591644 School healthy lunch box with sandwich, cookies, nuts, fruits and avocado on a white background.

Beyond school supplies: UF/IFAS expert shares healthy, affordable meal plans you can prepare in minutes

by Lourdes Mederos
July 27, 2026

While summer is still in full swing, signs of the new school year are already here. Back-to-school commercials are filling the airwaves, and stores are stocked with backpacks, classroom supplies and clothing as parents begin checking items ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Blog Community, , Events, Health & Nutrition, Home Management, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Affordable Meals, Back To School, Back-to-School Meals, Breakfast, Busy Families, Children, Dinner, Espanol, Extension De UF/IFAS De Miami-Dade, Food Is Medicine, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Kitchen, Lunch, Meal Planning, Meal Prep Hacks, News, Nutrition Facts Label, Nutritious, School, Shopping, Snakcs, Spanish, Top News, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, Youth

Wildlife Watch: Seeing more armadillos this summer? UF/IFAS experts explain in this Ask IFAS bilingual guide

by Lourdes Mederos
July 23, 2026

About this series This month’s Wildlife Watch installment spotlights the nine-banded armadillo. As residential and commercial development expands across Florida, wildlife is adapting to live closer to people and, in some cases, faces ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, Conservation, Crops, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Ask IFAS, Beneficial Wildlife, Espanol, Hance Ellington, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, News, Nine-banded Armadillo, Spanish, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Range Cattle Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS Wildlife Ecology And Conservation, University Of Florida, Wildlife Watch
Una calle residencial inundada con agua estancada que rodea varias casas, árboles y buzones de correo. El agua cubre la calle y parte de los jardines, reflejando las viviendas y los árboles, lo que muestra el impacto de una inundación en el vecindario.

Aprenda a proteger su pozo de agua y su sistema séptico durante la temporada de tormentas con esta serie gratuita de seminarios web de UF/IFAS

by Luz Bahder
July 20, 2026

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Muchos hogares de Florida dependen de pozos privados para obtener agua potable y de sistemas sépticos para tratar ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Disaster Preparation, Events, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Aguas Residuales Domésticas, Andrea Albertin, Espanol, Sistemas Sépticos, Spanish, Temporada De Tormentas, Yilin Zhuang
Flooded residential area with underwater houses from hurricane Debby rainfall water in Sarasota, Florida. Aftermath of natural disaster in southern USA. Adobe Stock File # 1947311237 By bilanol

Learn to safeguard your well water, septic system for storm season with this free UF/IFAS webinar series

by Lourdes Mederos
July 20, 2026

Many Floridians rely on private wells for drinking water and septic systems to treat household wastewater. Hurricanes, flooding and routine maintenance challenges can affect the safety and reliability of these systems. To help homeowners ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Events, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Andrea Albertin, Brain Health, Center For Land Use Efficiency, Drinking Water, Environment, Espanol, Flooding, Florida Well Owner Network, Health, Homeowner, Household Water Systems, Hurricanes, News, North Florida Research And Education Center, Safeguard, Septic System, Septic Tank, Top News, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research And Education Center, University Of Florida, Water, Wells, Yilin Zhuang
A photo of Milan Malco, a Florida 4-H teen involved in the Sunshine Harvesters Club working with another 4-H member at UF/IFAS Extension Broward County. Photo Credit: Extension UF/IFAS Broward County.

From archery to STEM, fishing to fashion design, Florida 4-H open house showcases opportunities for youth

by Lourdes Mederos
July 16, 2026

Youth interested in science, animals, gardening, archery, fashion, leadership, public speaking and much more can find a place to belong in Florida 4-H. Families in Broward County and surrounding communities looking for affordable, engaging ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Blog Community, , Clubs & Volunteers, Events, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: 4-H Youth Development Program, Agriculture, Archery, Children, Environmental Sciences, Fashion Design, Fishing, Florida 4-H, Florida 4-H Legislature, IFAS, Kenan Bridges, Open House, Opportunities, Professional Development, Public Speaking, Role Models, STEM, UF/IFAS Extension Broward County, Youth
Featured image: Adobe Stock File 291720491: Fallen tree hurricane tornado storm devastation. By Noel.

July 23: Get storm-ready at UF/IFAS workshop for HOA leaders, arborists, landscape industry, homeowners

by Lourdes Mederos
July 13, 2026

One poorly maintained tree can cause thousands of dollars in damage during a hurricane, leaving homes and neighborhoods devastated. On July 23, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is hosting “Be ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Disaster Preparation, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Arborist, Commercial Landscape, Disaster Preparation, HOA, Homeowners, Horticultural Sciences, Hurricane, Hurricane Impacts, Hurricane Preparedness, Hurricane-ready, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Landscape Management, News, Nurseries, Residential Tree Trimming, Severe Weather, Storm Damage, Tree Damage, Tree Trimming, Trees, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, University Of Florida
A close-up of a German cockroach on a map. Photo by Johnalyn Gordon.

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
Featured image: Young explorers observing mushrooms with magnifying glass in forest. AdobeStock_ 1655868095 By Serhii, Photo used under license.

Don’t let the ‘summer slide’ slow down learning; experts share fun options to fuel young minds

by Lourdes Mederos
June 11, 2026

Summer break has arrived for kids. A time for fun, freedom and family vacation. It can also be a time when academic skills fade away. With nearly 3 million students enrolled in Florida public schools, University of Florida experts at ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Blog Community, Camp, Clubs & Volunteers, Events, Professional Development, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: 4-H, 4-H Camp To Go, 4-H Programs, 4-H Summer Camps, Adventure, Adventures, Backyard Fun, Bonnie Wells, Citizen Science, David Hafner, Espanol, Exploring, Gardening, INaturalist App, Learning Opportunities, Lynsey Occenac, Outdoor Adventures, Science, Spanish, STEM, Summer, Summer Slide, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Broward County, UF/IFAS Extension Martin County, UF/IFAS Extension Osceola County, University Of Florida, Vacation, Young, Youth
This image, featuring the heads of individuals from the soldier caste, is meant to highlight the similarities of appearance across both parental species, the Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus), the Asian subterranean termite (Coptotermes gestroi), and hybrids. Visual identification of hybrid termites can only be done under magnification by experts that are familiar with identification characteristics. Submitting a sample to the UF/IFAS Termite ID Service (TermiteIDServices@ifas.ufl.edu) remains the best option to confirm any suspected samples. Credit: Thomas Chouvenc

Here’s what homeowners need to know about hybrid termites in Florida

by Lourdes Mederos
June 8, 2026

Alarming reports of hybrid “super” termites have fueled misinformation, while flooding news outlets across the United States for months. University of Florida scientists are stepping in to help property owners separate fact from fiction. In ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Home Management, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Asian Subterranean Termite, Ask IFAS, Coptotermes Formosanus, Coptotermes Gestroi, Entomology, Entomology And Nematology, Faith Oi, Formosan Subterranean Termite, Hybrid Termites, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Johnalyn Gordon, Nan-yao Su, News, Termite Damage, Termites, Thomas Chouvenc, UF IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida

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