Category: Agriculture

Wait! Your Palm May Not Be Dead Post Freeze!

by Jamie Daugherty, Ph.D.
April 10, 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

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

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

Roadmap to Success: Poultry Show Edition- Part One

by Adam Smith
November 3, 2025

While poultry projects can be great projects for first time exhibitors, there is more involved than what meets the eye. There are a few major steps to success in a poultry show. With a little elbow grease and informed decisions, you can be on ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture,
Tags: 4-h Livestock, Chickens, Poultry, Sumter County 4-H

Sumter County Small Animal Showmanship Workshop

by Adam Smith
October 21, 2025

In-person class in Sumter County, Florida: Saturday, January 17, 2025 7620 State Road 471, Bushnell, FL 33513 10:00 am- Learn the basics of poultry showmanship Topics to include: Preparation for showmanship What the judge is ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Livestock,

Japanese Blueberry (Elaeocarpus dentatus)

by Jamie Daugherty, Ph.D.
September 24, 2025

Are you looking to attract wildlife to your yard? Consider the Japanese Blueberry (Elaeocarpus dentatus). Although relatively new to the industry, this evergreen tree makes an excellent choice for wildlife-friendly yards throughout USDA ... READ MORE

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

Reviving Elms: Lessons from Dutch Elm Disease and Strategies for Healthy Urban Forests

by Jamie Daugherty, Ph.D.
August 27, 2025

The introduction of Dutch elm disease in the 1930s marked a turning point in American urban forestry. Millions of the once iconic elm trees across the U.S. were lost. The disease originated in Asia, where native elm species show some natural ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Tree Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County, Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry Extension

Strange Palm Growth? It Might Be a Boron Deficiency

by Jamie Daugherty, Ph.D.
August 26, 2025

If you manage palms, you know they need high-quality fertilizer applied regularly. Using a fertilizer that isn’t properly balanced for palms can lead to nutrient deficiencies—some of which mimic disease symptoms or make your palm appear ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Nutrient Deficiency, Palm Care, UF/IFAS Extension, Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry Extension

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