Category: Crops

Spread the Word: 2026 Peanut Butter Challenge runs Oct 1 to Oct 31 in Polk County!

by Jasi Cairns
September 30, 2026

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

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Community Volunteers, Crops, Events, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, 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

Florida Farm Pests: Whiteflies

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
September 9, 2026

Florida is a place where plenty of pests thrive because of its weather and environment. Among these pests, whiteflies are very common and can cause significant problems to both agricultural crops and home garden plants. Although they are very ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Agriculture, Florida Farms, Florida Pests, Pests, Plant Pests, Polk County, Polksmallfarms, Small Farms, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Whiteflies

Plagas de las Fincas de Florida: Moscas Blancas

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
September 9, 2026

Florida es un lugar donde proliferan numerosas plagas debido a su clima y entorno. Entre ellas, la mosca blanca es muy común y puede causar problemas importantes tanto en cultivos agrícolas como en plantas de jardines domésticos. Aunque son ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Agriculture, En Espanol, Espanol, Florida Farms, Florida Pests, Pests, Plant Pests, Polk County, Polksmallfarms, Small Farms, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Whiteflies

2026 Spring Southwest Florida Small Farmer Network (SWFLSFN) Meeting Recap: Florida Organic Production

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado, Jessica M. Ryals, David Outerbridge, Allie Williams, Jennifer Hagen and Kendall Gill

June 12, 2026

Southwest Florida Small Farmers Network (SWFSFN) The Southwest Florida Small Farmers Network (SWFSFN) is a group of UF/IFAS agents in the Southwest Region that connects growers with resources focused on diversified, sustainable farming. We ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Polksmallfarms, Small Farms, Southwest Florida Small Farms Network, Southwest Small Farmers Network, UF/IFAS

Water BMPs for Florida Small Farmers

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
June 9, 2026

Florida farmers operate in a unique environment, including sandy soils, variable weather (heavy rain, droughts, freezes, etc.), and sensitive water resources. To protect water quality and ensure long-term productivity, the Florida Department ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Polk Small Farms, Small Farms, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Water, Water Bmp, Water Efficiently, Water Management, Water Quality

Mejores Prácticas de Manejo (BMPs) de Agua Para las Pequeñas Fincas de Florida

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
June 9, 2026

Los agricultores de Florida operan en un entorno único, caracterizado por suelos arenosos, condiciones climáticas variables (lluvias intensas, sequías, heladas, etc.) y recursos hídricos sensibles. Para proteger la calidad del agua y garantizar ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: En Espanol, Espanol, Polk Small Farms, Small Farms, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Water, Water Bmp, Water Efficiently, Water Management

Annual Peanut Butter Challenge: 2025 Wrap Up

by Jasi Cairns and anikolai

February 18, 2026

Thank You, Polk County! The 2025 Annual Peanut Butter Challenge was an incredible success! This year, our community came together in a big way to fight hunger and support families across Polk County. Every jar donated represents hope, nourishment, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Events, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, 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, The Peanut Butter

Annual Peanut Butter Challenge: A Birthday Wish to End Hunger

by Jasi Cairns and anikolai

November 5, 2025

From Presents to Peanut Butter, A Gift That Gives Back In a world where small acts of kindness can ripple into big changes, one young girl in Polk County is proving that age is no barrier to making a meaningful impact. Meet London Brandt, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Work & Life
Tags: Charity, Donate, Florida Peanut Federation, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Food Banks, Food Pantries, Hot Topic, PBChallenge, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Challenge, Polk County, PolkExtension, PolkPBChallenge, Spread The Love, Spread The Peanut Butter

Reassessing Meatless Monday: A Scientific Perspective on the Role of Meat in Sustainable Diets

by Bridget Stice and Jasi Cairns

November 3, 2025

By Bridget Stice, UF/IFAS Extension Polk Meatless Monday campaigns urge the public to skip meat one day a week to "improve health and protect the planet". While reducing excessive consumption of any food can be beneficial, blanket campaigns ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Health & Nutrition, Livestock, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Agriculture, Beef, Bstice, Featured, Livestock, Meat, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkco, SFBF, Sustainability

Agroecology at the 2025 Summer Southwest Florida Small Farmer Network Meeting

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado, David Outerbridge, Jessica M. Ryals, Jennifer Hagen, Allie Williams and Ida VanDamme

June 25, 2025

Florida farmers are increasingly voicing their concern to UF/IFAS Extension about the negative impacts of conventional farming on the environment, including soil degradation, pesticide use, and water quality. As a result, some farmers are exploring ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Agriculture, Agroecology, Farm Management, Florida Farms, Small Farms, Southwest Florida Small Farms Network, UF/IFAS

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