Researchers suspect that the cost is nearly an order of magnitude higher, and their next project will document that more precisely. Nationwide, feral swine damage and control costs more than $1.5 billion annually, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Asian tiger mosquito is attracted to flowering butterfly bushes, giving mosquito control officials another tool to monitor and trap the insect that can transmit pathogens, causing potentially deadly diseases.
UF Citrus Research and Education Center scientists are developing genetically engineered limes containing anthocyanin, which are beneficial bioflavonoids that have numerous roles in human well-being, including treating obesity and diabetes.
Among the goals of the Florida Bull Test are to provide the commercial cow/calf producer a source of bulls that have been tested, and to promote awareness and understanding of the latest animal breeding concepts and tools while showcasing superior beef cattle genetics in Florida.
Have you dined on Arapaima? South Americans eat the fish regularly, and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers are studying whether it could be a viable food fish in the United States. “It has lots of high-quality meat,” said Jeffrey Hill, a UF/IFAS associate professor of fisheries and aquatic sciences. “It’s an easy fish to sell. It’s a really good food fish.”
Lay people who participate in citizen science develop more interest in science after participating in such a project, a new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences study shows. “Participating in science does more than teach people about science,” said Andrea Lucky, an assistant research scientist in the UF/IFAS entomology department and co-author of the study. “It builds trust in science and helps people understand what scientific research is all about.”
The SWFREC houses plant diagnostic labs, which analyze and diagnose diseases such as citrus greening, citrus canker, black spot on tomatoes and peppers, and watermelon vine decline. The agricultural economics team offers a Farm Labor Supervisor Training Program. SWFREC faculty also facilitate the Citrus Health Management Areas program, a coordinated pesticide program to help stave off citrus greening.
This resulted in the commercial release of a new UF/IFAS grapefruit cultivar N2-28 ‘Summer Gold Grapefruit’ that can be harvested into August.
Based on an annual survey of shrimp industry leaders, global farmed shrimp production fell 14 percent from 2011 to 2013, caused mainly by the devastating disease known as early mortality syndrome. The disease, caused by bacteria, was first reported in Asia in 2009, and has resulted in high mortalities in the shrimp-farming industry, especially in Thailand, China, Malaysia and Vietnam. But shrimp is bouncing back, with production expected to return to 2011 levels this year.
Eating a moderate amount of almonds each day may enrich the diets of adults and their young children. In the study, when parents and children were eating almonds, their Healthy Eating Index increased for total protein foods, seafood and plant proteins and fatty acids, while they ate fewer empty calories.
This finding may help growers protect the environment because they could reduce pesticides to keep the pest – known as thrips -- at bay. Growers may also save money because they may cut chemical use on their crop. In fact, because this thrips preys on many vegetable crops, the finding could save millions of dollars in pesticide use.
When you think of wildfires, you may not think of wetlands. But the seldom-seen blazes may help some endangered species, according to a newly published study by a former UF/IFAS researcher. Severe wetland fires -- so rare they occur only a few times per century – also can change vegetation and patterns of water movement.
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation, Inc., Box Tax Advisory Council voted unanimously in June to recommend continuation of the citrus box tax at the current assessment rate of $.03 (3 cents) per harvested box for the last year of the current referendum, fiscal year 2015-16.
More than 100 industry executives, association leaders, elected local and state policy makers, private and public sector economists, and other allied professionals are expected to attend. Five speakers will address critical issues in relation to agribusiness
In keeping with the yuletide spirit of giving, faculty, staff and interns with the UF/IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program are helping others this month, including adopting a family and collecting and distributing hygiene items.
Snail kites are important for at least two reasons: Bird enthusiasts flock to see them in their natural habitat, so they’re a bit of a tourist magnet. Secondly, wildlife managers use the snail kite as a barometer for conservation actions to preserve the Everglades, said Robert Fletcher, a UF/IFAS associate professor of wildlife ecology and conservation.
Those plants you bought to beautify your home during the holidays may look lovely, but they can pose dangers to your pets and children, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences expert says.
For Tori Bradley, learning about cold weather may turn into cold hard cash for Florida blueberry growers. Bradley, a University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences graduate student, interned with faculty to develop cold-weather protection strategies so blueberry growers can save money. By using the precision method, growers can save an average of $44 per acre per season on irrigation pumping costs, depending on their location in Florida.
Frank White is an international authority on plant-microbial interactions and the genetic basis of plant disease and resistance. Early in his career, White made major contributions to global understanding of the bacterium Agrobacterium, which transfers DNA to plants during plant infections. Agrobacterium is now used routinely for plant genetic engineering.
The program is a community partnership between the Marion County School District, UF/IFAS Extension and the National Restaurant Association.
Learning to distinguish the color red means jumping spiders can stay alive longer and eat pests ranging from caterpillars to beetles to flies, many of which damage agricultural products, said Lisa Taylor, an assistant research scientist in entomology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Jumping spiders are fairly ubiquitous: More than 5,000 species are found on every continent except Antarctica.
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers have found an irrigation method that uses 50 percent less water than traditional systems to grow potatoes – an important finding for the $131 million-a-year Florida crop.
Researchers with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences have developed genetically modified citrus trees that show enhanced resistance to greening, and have the potential to resist canker and black spot, as well. However, the commercial availability of those trees is still several years away.
Dig in! Dec. 3 marks the second annual day for “Dining In” for Healthy Families across the United States, and UF/IFAS Extension faculty are encouraging everyone to enjoy a nutritious meal with those close to them, which also enhances communication.
University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences students are learning how to breed better peppers under the guidance of Professor Bala Rathinasabapathi. And by “better,” we mean a more savory taste, among other characteristics. Florida produces $207 million worth of bell peppers annually, according to the Florida Department Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). In fact, as of 2012, Florida ranked second nationally in the value of bell peppers. Improving traits may help the Florida pepper industry grow even larger.
A UF/IFAS forest entomologist who – among other activities – is working to help stop pests that sicken trees, has been selected to receive the Richard L. Jones Award for promising research at UF/IFAS. The 2016 award goes to Jiri Hulcr. It is presented by the UF/IFAS dean for research and director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station to an outstanding early career scientist. Like previous winners, Hulcr will receive the award at the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Annual Awards Reception in May 2016. Hulcr said he and his team are trying to protect the world’s forests and tree industries by understanding the biology of tree pests and pathogens.
As 2015 starts to wind down, world-renowned food scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are already predicting trends for 2016. As they do, here are some hints as to what you can expect see in grocery stores and on your dinner table. You can look for total sensory foods, high-end fish and less grilling, among other phenomena.
Results of new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences research may help control some dangerous species of fungi, known as phytophthora -- or water molds -- that can cause millions of dollars in damage annually to ornamental plants and some fruit trees.
More than 40 gardeners currently have plots in the church’s raised-beds on four acres of land that was once a pasture.
University of Florida researchers have found an algorithm to help them detect laurel wilt, the deadly pathogen that threatens Florida’s $100 million-a-year avocado industry.
For some, Thanksgiving means more than gobbling turkey and watching football. It’s the season of giving thanks and giving back to the community.
UF/IFAS Extension and Bok Tower Gardens are offering programs to empower local communities to lead healthier lives and ensure responsible environmental stewardship.
To better compete with Mexico, Florida strawberry growers must produce more fruit earlier in the growing season -- in November and December – to keep a competitive advantage in the global market, UF/IFAS researchers found. Florida and California combine to produce 99 percent of the United States’ strawberries, and Florida ranks as the biggest producer of winter strawberries, with a value of $366 million annually.
You’re about to feast, give thanks, watch football and, maybe, take a nap. But as you head into the Thanksgiving holiday, how do you make sure you’re preparing your food properly and, then after dinner, how to you ensure your food stays safe to eat?
The research focuses on strawberry production systems, rather than just one part of the production process. Controlling weeds is a significant cost for all strawberry producers, not just organic producers. The project examines the effectiveness of cover crops as a supplementary weed management technique, used in conjunction with plastic mulch.
More than 70 vendors sell at the Saturday morning market.
A web-based irrigation system developed by researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences saved 21 percent in water use without reducing growth of container-grown landscape plants, a new study shows.
Anyone involved in gardening or agriculture and gardening-related industries and education can “come home” to Gainesville as the University of Florida introduces Agriculture and Gardening Day for Homecoming weekend.
“I have learned so much about plants and keeping them alive: My tomato plant is full of fruit, I’m growing an orange tree as we speak and I have two thriving banana plants,” said Kendall Stacey, a freshman in psychology and the student who received the 40,000th plant from Professor David Clark. “He’s a really amazing teacher. I will definitely be growing more plants, and I’ve come to be able to recognize and identify plants that I see around campus."
"The fact that we found these two with little effort suggests there are a lot more new and undescribed fungal species that we walk over all the time."
Ron O’Connor takes a hands-on approach to helping at University of Florida/IFAS Extension events, mentoring up and coming agriculture students, taking photographs and even securing grants for many projects.
Through the University of Florida Marion County Extension’s second annual STEM program, students will visit nine stations at the Extension office to understand what goes into producing the food they eat.
Farmers markets have been growing in popularity throughout the last decade as consumers discover the benefits of buying farm-fresh food directly from small-scale, local growers. However, increasing popularity has also raised food safety concerns for produce sold at those markets.
An app developed by scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences may save homeowners about 30 percent on water usage, which translates into lower utility bills, new research shows. The finding is significant for homeowner money savings and water conservation. Urban turf irrigation accounts for 30 percent to 70 percent of residential per capita water use, according to a 2007 UF/IFAS study.
When growers, Extension agents and scientists gather for the Nov. 4 Florida Ag Expo in Balm, Florida, they’ll celebrate two anniversaries: the 90th year of the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center and the 10th year of the expo. Over the past 10 years that the center has been at Balm, growers have come to depend on UF/IFAS researchers to assist them with their daily challenges of farming.
Get ready to see the latest on a new breed of cattle, courtesy of research by scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The Ona White Angus was developed over two decades of cross-breeding various phenotypes, said John Arthington, director of the UF/IFAS Range Cattle Research and Education Center.
UF/IFASis hosting a workshop from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 16, at the Anna Maria Public Library to help residents understand the precautions they can take to reduce coyote encounters.
In a new analysis in the journal BioScience, UF/IFAS researchers evaluated how wheat moved along rail networks in the United States and Australia. Through their analysis, researchers identified U.S. states that are particularly important for sampling and managing insect and fungal problems as they move through the networks, said Karen Garrett, a UF/IFAS plant pathology professor and senior author of the study. The new knowledge could help make the food supply safer and save farmers hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Making it easier for residents to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and increase Florida farmer’s profits is the win-win result of a partnership between the University of Florida/IFAS Extension Sumter County Office and the Sumter County Farmer’s Market.
The UF Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences has created the Nature Coast Biological Station, to be housed in Cedar Key. The station is a site to help enhance conservation and improve management of natural resources up and down the Gulf Coast — from Hernando to Wakulla County
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