Yearly Archives: 2024

It’s not fall, but the fall armyworm is here

In the southeastern United States, the fall armyworm is a pest that is found…in the winter (as well as other parts of the year, lucky us).  Right now, yards around central Florida may be experiencing the fall armyworm. The fall armyworm is a moth (Spodoptera frugiperda) that causes plant damage during the larval phase. Armyworm eggs…

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Heart-Healthy Foods for Valentine’s Day: Love Your Heart!

Valentine’s Day! A day full of love, hugs, and… chocolates? Well, this year we’re giving a twist to the Valentine’s menu. Instead of the regular heart-shaped candies, how about we fill our plates with foods that are actually good for our hearts? Sounds interesting? Let’s do this! Salmon: The Heart’s BFF! Have you ever heard…

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Florada Friendly Features: Imposter Pitch Apple?

Introduction I try to eat fish several times during the week. Many organizations have recommended eating seafood twice a week. For example, the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults eat eight ounces of fish or seafood per week. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/DGA_2020-2025_StartSimple_withMyPlate_English_color.pdf  Seafood includes fish and shellfish, such as salmon, clams, oysters, tuna, snapper, shrimp, crab, and…

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Fish and Seafood Safety

I frequently get questions asking, “Why is this turfgrass turning brown?” The quick answer is that it depends, although that alone is not helpful. There are two reasons why turfgrass begins to yellow or get chlorotic, and in some cases continues to a straw or brown appearance. Reason One The first reason is due to…

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February 2024 Florida First Detector

Recap of February 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector In this month’s webinar, we talked about plant pathogens. A pathogen is any organism that causes disease. Some pathogens that can impact plants include fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes and more. When we are checking our plants for issues, we look for both signs and symptoms.…

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Why Go Med?

When you hear the term “Going Med”, what do you think it means? This term is in reference to following the Mediterranean Diet, which has shown an impact on the prevention and management of several chronic diseases. It’s a way of eating that comes from the foods available and consumed by those living in the…

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Lichens on Fruit Trees: Control and Management Strategies

Introduction: Lichens are organisms that often go unnoticed, yet they play a significant role in the ecosystem, including fruit orchards. These symbiotic unions between fungi and algae, or cyanobacteria, form crust-like structures on tree bark, providing important ecological services. While lichens are generally harmless, their presence on fruit trees can raise concerns among tree growers.…

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Pre-emergence Herbicides- Prevention Better than Cure

Have you ever felt frustrated by seeing weeds growing in your lawn? Every spring, you apply so many gallons of herbicides; the weeds go away briefly, and suddenly, they return. Winter weeds, such as Florida Snow (Florida Pusley), decorate your yard with white flowers. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is better…

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