Category: Farm Management

Know Your Beef – The Myths of Meatless Mondays

by Bridget Stice and Jasi Romero

May 12, 2025

Every Monday, some groups urge Americans to skip meat in the name of “helping the planet.” But here’s the truth: U.S. beef production is NOT the environmental problem it’s often made out to be. These campaigns rely on global averages ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, 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, Polk County, Sustainability

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. Ryals

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

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: 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

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 Bosques

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

Plagas de las Fincas de Florida: Hormigas Rojas de Fuego Importadas (“Red Imported Fire Ants” [RIFA])

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado and Jonael Bosques

September 30, 2024

Son fuertes y agresivas. Cuando atacan, muerden y te pican. Estos individuos invaden nuestros hogares y se apoderan de nuestras granjas y jardines, y lo hacen sin que nos demos cuenta: son las hormigas rojas de fuego importadas. ¿Qué ... 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: En Espanol, Espanol, Florida Farms, Florida Pests, Hardee County, Hormigas De Fuego, Pests, Pest_control, Polk County, Polksmallfarms, Red_imported_fire_ants, Small Farms, UF/IFAS

Florida Farm Pests: Spider Mites

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
September 10, 2024

Many arthropods are considered to be pests and can cause negative impacts on agricultural and nursery plants. The majority of these arthropods are insects. On the other hand, not all arthropod pests are insects and some of them may be confused ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Florida_Pests, Integrated Pest Management, IPM, Mites, Pest_control, Plant Pests, Polk County, Polksmallfarms, Small Farms, Spider_mites, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

Plagas de las Fincas de Florida: Ácaros (“Spider Mites”)

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
September 10, 2024

Muchos artrópodos se consideran plagas y pueden causar impactos negativos en los cultivos y a las plantas ornamentales. La mayoría de estos artrópodos son insectos. Sin embargo, no todas las plagas pertenecen al grupo de los insectos y algunas ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: En Espanol, Espanol, Florida Pests, IMP, Integrated Pest Management, Mites, Pest_control, Plant Pests, Polk County, Polksmallfarms, Small Farms, Spider_mites, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

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