Category: UF/IFAS Extension

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, 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
A streak of white lightning on a dark background.

Boom! That thunder signals lightning is near. Be ready with these safety tips

by Brad Buck
July 15, 2026

We’re entering the heart of Florida’s summer thunderstorm season, and the daily rumble of storms heralds one of nature’s most dangerous hazards: lightning.  The danger is far from theoretical. Of the 21 known fatalities reported nationwide ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Beach Safety, Florida Lightning Safety, Florida Summer Storms, Florida Weather, Fort Myers Beach Lightning, Lara Milligan, Lightning Awareness, Lightning Hazards, Lightning Injuries, Lightning Misconceptions, Lightning Prevention, Lightning Safety Florida, Lightning Safety Tips, Lightning Shelter, Lightning Strikes, Natural Resources Extension, Outdoor Recreation Safety, Outdoor Safety, Public Safety Education, Severe Weather Preparedness, Shannon Carnevale, Storm Safety, Summer Thunderstorms, Thunder And Lightning, Thunderstorm Preparedness, Thunderstorm Safety, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida, Weather Education, Weather Safety, When Thunder Roars Go Indoors, Wildfire Prevention

Yvonne‑Marie Linton Named Director of UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory 

by Meredith Bauer-Mitchell
July 15, 2026

Internationally respected mosquito- and vector-borne disease expert Yvonne-Marie Linton has been chosen as the new director for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: AI Insect Identification, Biomedical Research, Blog Community, Chikungunya, Dengue Prevention, Disease Surveillance, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Entomology, Featured, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Florida Public Health, FMEL, Global Health, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Integrated Pest Management, Medical Entomology, Mosquito Prevention, Mosquito Research, Mosquito-borne Diseases, News, One Health, Oropouche Virus, Public Health Research, Smithsonian Institution, UF IFAS Research Leadership, UF Research, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University Of Florida, Vector Control, Vector-borne Diseases, Vero Beach Florida, Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, West Nile Virus, Yvonne-Marie Linton, Zika Virus Research
A white bug on a green leaf.

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
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 white bug on a green leaf.

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

From Colonial Roots to 250 Years: Florida’s heritage cattle offer lessons for the state’s agricultural past, present and future

by Jamie Groh and Meredith Bauer-MitchellA professional headshot profile image of a young woman with brown hair in a pink jacket and tan shirt.
June 29, 2026

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, a small, rugged breed of cattle roaming Florida’s pastures is helping tell a much longer American story, one that predates the nation itself and may offer insight into the future of agriculture.  Heritage ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Livestock, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Agricultural Heritage USA, American Ranching History, Cattle Conservation, Climate Resilient Livestock, Featured, Florida Agriculture, Florida Cracker Cattle, Florida Farming, Florida Ranching, Heritage Cattle, Historic Cattle Breeds, Livestock Sustainability, Paynes Prairie Cattle, Pineywoods Cattle, Ranching Practices, Rotational Grazing, Scrub Cattle, Spanish Livestock History, St Johns County Agriculture, St. Johns County, Sustainable Agriculture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Swaying palm leaves in the wind by an out-of-focus sea background.

Communicating Before, During and After a Hurricane – A PIE Center Lunch and Learn

by Annabel Henson
June 22, 2026

The UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources, in collaboration with Florida Extension Disaster Education Network, will host a virtual Lunch and Learn on Jun. 23, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. EST on Communicating ... READ MORE

Category: Disaster Preparation, Events, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Hurricane Webinar, PIE Center, UF/IFAS Center For Public Issues Education In Agriculture And Natural Resources, UF/IFAS PIE Center

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