UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County -

Wait! Your Palm May Not be Dead Post Freeze!

by Jamie Daugherty, Ph.D.
February 27, 2026

With the recent record-breaking freezing weather we have experienced, it can be tempting to jump into pruning and replacing plants. As tempting as that may be, you could be removing living plants or causing additional issues by pruning too soon. ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Freeze, Freeze Damage, Freeze Damaged Palms, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County, Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry Extension

Winter Wisdom for 4-H Livestock

by Adam Smith
January 30, 2026

Temps are dropping all over the state this weekend. For many families with livestock this can be a huge point of stress, especially here in the Sunshine State where we do not typically have these climates. Four basic steps can help simplify ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Farm Management, Livestock
Tags: 4-H, Animals, Cold Protection, Florida Winter Livestock, Livestock

Healthy Super Bowl Swaps That Still Score Big

by Kimberly McMahon
January 22, 2026

It’s that time of year again for Super Bowl parties, friends gathered around the TV, and tables full of delicious snacks. But if you promised yourself that this year you’d start off on a healthier note, game day doesn’t have to derail ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition
Tags: Family And Consumer Sciences, Healthy, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County

2026 Upcoming Opportunities for Professional Development

by Jim Davis
January 12, 2026

Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) – Extension Leadership Conference February 4 – February 5, 2026Savannah, Georgiahttps://www.jcep.org/ UF Water Institute – 2026 Symposium February 24 – February 26, 2026Gainesville, ... READ MORE

Category: Events, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,

Beautiful Buttonbush for Natural Areas and Landscapes

by Jamie Daugherty, Ph.D.
January 2, 2026

Button Bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is an amazing plant for both natural area restorations and landscapes. Found naturally throughout Florida and much of the US and Eastern Canada (zones 4-10A) in various wetland environments such as ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Button_bush, Cephalanthus Occidentalis

Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)-What’s the Big Deal?

by laurahbennett
December 22, 2025

Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is basically a synonym for Best Management Practices with the spin of having a focus on the consumer. Beef producers are doing their best to assure quality beef for their buyers. The BQA website best describes the ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Farm Management, Livestock
Tags: SFBF, SFBFP

Bad Things Come in Threes: A Look at the Disease Triangle

by Madelyn Greathouse
November 20, 2025

Understanding how plant diseases work can really equip growers to protect their plants to the best of their ability. So today, I want to provide a basic rundown of one of the keystones of plant pathology: the disease triangle. The ... READ MORE

Category:

Adopting AI: What It Means for Florida Horticulture

by Madelyn Greathouse
November 20, 2025

If you are living and breathing in the horticultural industry right now, you are hearing the phrase “artificial intelligence” everywhere. AI can sometimes feel like a nebulous, catch-all term that confuses those who aren't working with it ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension

What You Don’t See Shapes the Tree

by Madelyn Greathouse
November 20, 2025

The nursery industry stands out above the crowd when we take a look at Sumter County's agricultural producers. More than 75% of all crop sales came from the nursery sector, according to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture. Among the many commodities ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension

Sumter Youth Dive Deeper into Industry Knowledge

by Adam Smith
November 19, 2025

The show livestock industry may have strayed from production values in some ways. Here in Sumter County, we are helping bring youth back to the foundations of animal production. Premier Exhibitor is a long-standing program in Sumter County, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth
Tags: 4-H Contest, 4-h Livestock, Sumter County 4-H, Sumter County Fair

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