Category: Pests & Disease

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

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

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

Updates and Changes to the Florida Pesticide Examination Process

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
September 4, 2024

Pesticide applicators often rely on UF/IFAS Extension to obtain pesticide education, training, support, and to take their respective exams. All 67 county offices have historically offered free exams, through paper or using a computer. Due to ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, , Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Pesticide License, Pesticide Testing, Pesticide Training, Pesticides, Pesticide_applicator, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

Actualizaciones y Cambios del Proceso de Examinación de Pesticidas de Florida

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
September 4, 2024

Los aplicadores de pesticidas a menudo dependen de “UF/IFAS Extension” para obtener educación, capacitación, apoyo sobre temas relacionados con pesticidas y para completar sus respectivos exámenes. Históricamente, las 67 oficinas de ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, , Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: En Espanol, Espanol, Pesticide License, Pesticide Testing, Pesticide Training, Pesticides, Pesticide_applicator, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

Florida Farm Pests: Thrips

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
June 5, 2024

Florida has the presence of many pests that can negatively affect crops and ornamental plants. Among these pests, we can find thrips. These are responsible for millions of economic losses on agricultural commodities and nurseries. What ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Florida Pests, Pest_control, Polk County FL, Polksmallfarms, Small Farms, Thrips, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

UF/IFASExtension Polk County

Subscribe For More Great Content

UF/IFAS
Extension Polk County