Category: UF/IFAS Extension

Trailblazing entomologist’s gift creates a home for students, future scientists – and a legacy of belonging

by Lourdes Mederos
October 23, 2025

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) will celebrate a milestone moment on Nov. 1 at 4:30 p.m., when the doors open to the Pauline O. Lawrence Student Residence at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, Crops, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Agriculture, Dormitory, Edward "Gilly" Evans, Edward Evans, Emeritus Professor Carlton Davis, Empathy, Entomology, Enviroment, First Black Female Graduate Student, Food And Resource Economics, Fruit Flies, Future Scientists, Graduate Students, Groves, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, J. Scott Angle, Miami-Dade County, Natural Resources, News, Pauline O. Lawrence Student Residence, Resilience, Richard Baranowski, South Florida, Students, TREC, TREC Dormitory Fund, Tropical Fruit, Tropical Research And Education Center, Tropical Vegetable, Tropics, UF, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Tropical Research And Education Center, University Of Florida

Miami native returns home to focus on youth, community, climate as UF/IFAS Extension director

by Lourdes Mederos
September 29, 2025

In the first 30 days as director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Miami-Dade County, Pamela Aracena Santos has begun shaping programs to better reflect the voices and needs of the ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Crops, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Amelia Earhart Park, Everglades Agricultural Area, Everglades Research And Education Center, Homestead, Marine Ecosystems, Miami, Miami-Dade’s Parks, News, Nutrition Education, Pamela Aracena Santos, Phosphorus, Plant Nutrition, Recreation And Open Spaces, Selcuk University, Soil Science, Tropical Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, University Of Florida, Urban Agriculture

UF/IFAS warns of emerging pest threatening South Florida crops: Two-spot cotton leafhopper detected

by Lourdes Mederos
September 15, 2025

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is alerting growers to a new pest of concern making its mark in South Florida farms and nurseries: the invasive two-spot cotton leafhopper. Measuring ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Acarology, Alexandra Revynthi, Cotton, Entomology And Nematology, FDACS, Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services Division Of Plant Industry, Flowers, Hibiscus, Hibiscus Flowers, Home Gardens, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, News, Okra, Ornamental Hibiscus, Peanut, Plant Pathology, Potato, Soybean', Sunflower, Tropical Hibiscus, Tropical Research And Education Center, Two-spot Cotton Leafhopper, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, University Of Florida

Experts call for expansion of organic farming to meet rising demand

by Lourdes Mederos
September 4, 2025

Consumer demand for organic fresh fruits and vegetables outweighs the availability of organic farms growing the food. In fact, while certified organic U.S. land for growing crops or livestock is increasing according to the U.S. Department ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Crops, Farm Management, Food Safety, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agriculture, Dakshina Seal, Extension, Farming, Florida Economy, Florida Organic Growers, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jeff Wasielewski, Jonathan Crane, News, Organic, Organic Farms, Organic Produce, Qingren Wang, Research, Tropical Research And Education Center, U.S. Department Of Agriculture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida, Vermicompost, Xiaoying Li

Scientists will use $1M grant to build a support system addressing sea level rise and flooding in South Florida

by Lourdes Mederos
July 17, 2025

A team of University of Florida scientists has been awarded a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to tackle one of South Florida’s most urgent environmental threats: groundwater flooding and saltwater intrusion caused ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Conservation, Crops, Disaster Preparation, Farm Management, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Agricultural And Biological Engineering, Ashley Smith, Biochemistry, Conservation, Eban Bean, Edward Evans, Flood, Flood Mitigation, Flood Risk, Food And Resource Economics, Grant, Green Infrastructures, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Mangrove Restoration, Miami, National Science Foundation, News, Rain Gardens, Saltwater Intrusion, Sea Level Rise, Soil And Water Sciences, Soil Sciences, Southeast Florida, Stormwater, Stormwater Runoff, Tropical Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, Young Gu Her, Zachary Brym

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a Florida avocado tree; UF/IFAS expert offers tips to grow your own

by Lourdes Mederos
April 21, 2025

With Cinco de Mayo approaching, now’s the time to dig into guacamole and even plant the tree that produces it. Florida avocados offer a fresh, tropical twist on this fan-favorite fruit that stars in so many recipes. Did you know Florida ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Avocado, Avocado Toast, Avocado Tree, Choquette Avocado, Cinco De Mayo, Donnie Avocado, Extension, Florida Avocado, Fruit, Guacamole, Hass, Home Landscape, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jeff Wasielewski, Lourdes Mederos, Miami-Dade Extension, Miguel Avocado, Monroe Avocado, News, Nutrition, Prune, Russell Avocado, Simmonds Avocado, Sub-tropical Fruits, Trees, Tropical Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, University Of Florida

Cultivating connections: Showcasing Miami-Dade’s blooming nursery industry and the need for more research on disease

by Lourdes Mederos
March 26, 2025

With a $31.4 billion economic impact, Florida leads the nation in nursery production. Miami-Dade County ranks No.1 in production nationwide, with nurseries accounting for 84% of the county's agricultural sector. It is no wonder with the ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: American Floral Endowment, American Hort Foundation Horticulture Research Institute, Dade County Farm Bureau, FNGLA, Gardenia, Hibiscus, Hibiscus Bud Weevil, Inc., Jeffrey DeMott, Miami Dade, Miami-Dade Chapter Of FNGLA, Orchids, Palms, Redland Nursery, Silver Vase, Subtropical Ornamentals, Thrips Parvispinus, Tropical Research And Education Center, U.S. Department Of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, USDA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative, Xingbo Wu

April 10: UF/IFAS to host free online workshop on vanilla cultivation to encourage a domestic industry

by Lourdes Mederos
March 25, 2025

Aspiring vanilla growers and seasoned agriculturalists in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are invited to a free online workshop: An Introduction to Domestic Vanilla Cultivation. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., on April 10, leading ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Crops, EVENTS, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agricultural Systems, Crop, Cured Vanilla Beans, Domestic Vanilla Industry, Extract, Farm, Farming, Flavor And Extracts Manufacture Association, Greenhouse, Low-maintenance Crop, Plant Breeding, Puerto Rico, Spice, Sustainability, U.S. Department Of Agriculture Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research And Education (USDA-SSARE), UF/IFAS Plant Breeding, UF/IFAS Tropical Research And Education Center, USDA-SSARE, Vanilla, Vanilla Extract, Vanilla Planifolia, Vanillin, Virgin Islands, Xingbo Wu

Dragon fruit workshop spurs excitement and collaboration for a robust industry in Florida

by Lourdes Mederos
July 31, 2024

Dragon fruit is a heart-healthy superfood, low in calories and fueled with plenty of fiber and antioxidants - and it’s in high demand among consumers worldwide. An increasing number of consumers are growing this fruiting cactus vine ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Blog Community, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Dragon Fruit, Jonathan Crane, Romina Gazis, Super Fruit, Superfood, U.S. Department Of Agriculture, U.S. Dragon Fruit Industry, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, UF/IFAS TREC Plant Diagnostic Clinic, USDA National Institute Of Food And Agriculture, USDA-NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative

Taller gratuito sobre planificación empresarial y gestión tributaria para agricultores y finqueros en la Extensión de UF/IFAS de Miami-Dade

by Luz Bahder
June 3, 2024

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. La operación exitosa de granjas y fincas requiere de sólidas habilidades comerciales para garantizar la viabilidad ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, EVENTS, Farm Management, Horticulture, Livestock, Professional Development, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Agricultores, Apoyo Para Personas De Habla Hispana, Comercializacion, Departamento De Agricultura De Los Estados Unidos, Espanol, Extension De UF/IFAS De Miami-Dade, Fincas, Finqueros, FSA, Ganaderos, Granjas, Gratis, Huertas, Impuestos, Impuestos Agricolas, Intereses, Pago De Impuestos, Patrimonio De Herederos Y Planes De Sucesion, Plan De Negocios, Planificacion Empresarial E Impuestos, Prestamos, Programas Disponibles, Revision De Estados Financieros, Spanish, Taller, Taller Gratuito, Taller Sobre Planificacion Y Gestion Fiscal, Texas A&M, Tropical Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Tropical Research And Education Center, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Usda

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