BMP Cost-share opportunities for farmers in the Suwannee Valley:

by Kelsey Crain
April 20, 2026

Why Cost Share? Cost share programs in the Suwannee Valley exist to support more sustainable farming practices that conserve water and reduce nutrient runoff or leaching into the region’s aquifer. These programs help farmers adopt advanced ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, , Water
Tags: Agriculture, Best Management Practices, Cost-share, Kelsey Crain, NFREC-SV, Nutrient Management Program, Suwannee Valley, SV Ag Update

Putnal Farms: Mastering Best Management Practices in the Suwannee Valley

by Kelsey Crain
February 26, 2026

 Past and Present Putnals: Rooted in Suwannee County, Florida, Putnal Farms is a multi-generational farm led by father and son Jack and Riley Putnal. Together, they bring nearly six decades of farming experience, with Jack beginning his ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture
Tags: BMPs, Drip Irrigation, Irrigation Automation, Kelsey Crain, Master Irrigator, Nitrogen Management, Water Conservation, Watermelon
A large red tractor with extended arms on each side runs through a corn field, applying fertilizer.

Featured New Faculty: Paul White

by Mike Loizzo
February 10, 2026

Paul M. White is one of the newest members of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES). He is an associate professor of soil science and coordinator of the UF/IFAS Agricultural Nutrient Management Program. Based in ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Best Management Practices, Farming, Fertilizer, Nutrient Management, Nutrient Management Program, Paul M White, Precision Agriculture, Soil, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Sustainable Agriculture, Water
A potato field in Hastings, FL, where scientists collected soil samples for a phosphorus management research program.

Phosphorus Management in Florida Must Be Soil-Specific

by Mike Loizzo
February 9, 2026

Phosphorus is one of the most essential nutrients for plant growth. It also is one of the most challenging to manage responsibly. When applied efficiently, it supports lawns and landscapes as well as healthy crops. But when it moves off-site ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Lawn, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Dinesh Phuyal, Entisols, Histosols, Lilit Vardanyan, Mehlich, Nutrient Management, Nutrient Management Program, Phosphorus, Soil Chemistry, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Spodosols, Vimala Nair

Sustainable Silage Production: Nitrogen Reduction through Modern Ag Practices in the Suwannee Valley

by Sydney Williams
November 14, 2025

Silage Corn in North Florida In North Florida, silage corn is an essential crop for supporting the region’s dairy and livestock farms. It provides a high-energy, nutrient-dense feed that’s especially important for maintaining healthy, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture,
Tags: Agriculture, Best Management Practices, NFREC-SV, Nitrogen Management, Nutrient Management Program, Shenandoah Dairy, Silage Corn, Suwannee Valley, SV Ag Update, Sydney Williams

Riverbend Farms: A Family Tradition Embracing Modern Agriculture

by Sydney Williams
October 9, 2025

A Family Rooted in Agriculture Nestled alongside the Suwannee River in Branford, Florida, Riverbend Farms spans nearly 200 acres that have been passed down through four generations, since 1865. Today, Kyle and Tera Kelley lead the operation, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture,
Tags: Best Management Practices, Controlled Release Fertilizer, NFREC-SV, Nutrient Management Program, Suwannee Valley, SV Ag Update, Sydney Williams, Watermelon

Controlled-Release Fertilizer Enhances Nutrient-Use Efficiency in Suwannee Valley Snapbeans

by Sydney Williams
August 14, 2025

Snapbean Production in the Suwannee Valley  Snapbean is a key vegetable crop in the Suwannee Valley, with an estimated 3,000 acres grown in the spring season, and another 2,000 acres grown in the fall each year. This is a short-season legume ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture
Tags: Best Management Practices, Controlled Release Fertilizer, NFREC-SV, Nutrient Management Program, Snap Bean, Suwannee Valley, Sydney Williams

Nitrogen Reduction in Sweet Corn: On-Farm Successes with One of the Suwannee Valley Region’s Leading Producers

by Sydney Williams
August 4, 2025

In recent years, sweet corn production has gained momentum in the Suwannee Valley and Gilchrist County, as rising costs in South Florida have pushed growers north and local producers look to diversify beyond traditional staple crops such as ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture,
Tags: Agriculture, Best Management Practices, Controlled Release Fertilizer, Corn, NFREC-SV, Nutrient Management Program, Sydney Williams

Subscribe For More Great Content

IFAS Blogs Categories