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Category: Agriculture

Cottage Food, Water BMPs, & Essential Farm Equipment at the 2025 Spring Southwest Florida Small Farmer Network Meeting

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado, Allie Williams, David Outerbridge, Jennifer Hagen and Jessica M. RyalsAvatar photo
April 18, 2025

Many farmers sell products directly from their farms to reach more customers. Some of these items require a food permit, but others can be sold without one under Florida’s Cottage Food Law. What is the Cottage Food Law? Florida's Cottage ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Water
Tags: BMPs, Cottage Food Law, Farm Equipment, Farm Management, Irrigation, Small Farms, Southwest Florida Small Farms Network, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Water
Blue UF/IFAS sign with green shrubs in front

Spring Plant Sale

by Anne Yasalonis
April 18, 2025

                            Mark your calendars and plant yourself at our Annual Plant Sale on April 26! Whether you have a green thumb or just enjoy the beauty of plants, this in-person event is perfect for you. The ... READ MORE

Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Tags: Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polk Florida Friendly Landscaping, Polk Gardening

Apicultura en Florida: Comprensión de la Loque Americana y Europea (“Foulbrood”) en las abejas melíferas

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
April 10, 2025

Las abejas melíferas son esenciales para nuestro sistema agrícola, desempeñando un papel crucial en el proceso de polinización del 85% de nuestros cultivos. Sin embargo, estos insectos laboriosos se enfrentan a diversas amenazas. Entre ellas ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Livestock, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: American Foulbrood, Beekeeping, Bees, En Espanol, Espanol, European Foulbrood, Foulbrood, Honeybees

Beekeeping in Florida: Understanding American and European Foulbrood in Honey Bees

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
April 10, 2025

Honey bees are essential to our agricultural system, playing a critical role in the pollination process of 85% of our crops. However, these industrious insects face several threats. Among some of these threats are bacterial diseases such as ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Livestock, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: American Foulbrood, Beekeeping, Bees, European Foulbrood, Foulbrood, Honeybees, Pests

Annual Peanut Butter Challenge: 2024 Wrap Up

by Jasi Romero
December 23, 2024

Thank You, Polk County! The 2024 Peanut Butter Challenge, organized by UF/IFAS Extension and Florida A&M University (FAMU) Cooperative Extension, was a smooth success. This annual peanut butter jar collection brings communities together ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Anikolai, Charity, Donate, Education, Florida Peanut Federation, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Food Banks, Food Pantries, Hot Topic, Nutrition, PBChallenge, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Challenge, Polk County, PolkExtension, PolkPBChallenge, Spread The Love, Spread The Peanut Butter
buckets filled with jaars of peanut butter

Annual Peanut Butter Challenge: How One Girl is Giving Back

by Jasi Romero
December 9, 2024

Meet the Young Girl Inspiring Our Community with Her Peanut Butter Donation At just nine years old, London Brandt, is already making a difference in her community. Inspired by the kindness she sees around her and her desire to help those ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Community Volunteers, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Charity, Donate, Florida Peanut Federation, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Food Banks, Food Pantries, PBChallenge, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Challenge, Polk County, PolkExtension, PolkPBChallenge, Spread The Love, Spread The Peanut Butter
A jar of opened peanut butter with a metal spoon inside. Peanuts in shells are scattered throughout background.

Polk County’s 2024 Peanut Butter Challenge

by Jasi Romero
November 6, 2024

Join the Peanut Butter Challenge: Spread the Love! Get ready to go nuts for a great cause! The Peanut Butter Challenge is back and and it’s more exciting than ever! Hosted by UF/IFAS Extension and Florida A&M University (FAMU) Cooperative ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Events, Health & Nutrition, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Charity, Donate, Florida Peanut Federation, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Food Banks, Food Pantries, PBChallenge, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Challenge, Polk County, PolkExtension, PolkPBChallenge, Spread The Love, Spread The Peanut Butter

Hurricane Milton: Updates for Polk’s Small Farmers

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
October 7, 2024

Here are some steps to follow for farmers, ranchers and growers during emergencies. Take care of yourselves and your families before taking care of the farm. Secure all your farm equipment, protect your plants or animals, and remove ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Disaster Preparation, Farm Management
Tags: Disaster, Disaster Preparation, Hurricane, Hurricane Milton, Hurricane Preparation, Preparedness, Storms

Florida Farm Pests: Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA)

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado and Jonael BosquesAvatar photo
September 30, 2024

They are strong and aggressive. When they attack, they bite and they sting you. These guys invade our homes, and take over our farms and landscapes, and they do this without us even noticing: they are Red Imported Fire ants.   What ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Invasive Species, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Fire Ants, Florida Farms, Florida_Pests, Hardee County, Pests, Pest_control, Polk County, Polksmallfarms, Red_imported_fire_ants, Small Farms, UF/IFAS

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