As we are experiencing our first cold front of the year and we are settling into pumpkin spice and soup season, it is time to evaluate the nutritional needs of our livestock and if they are in need of additional supplementation. Hopefully you prioritize pasture management throughout the year and can rely on forage for…
Codominant Stems Are Tree Wishbones
As you are driving around Charlotte County, you are probably astonished by the amount of tree damage. A postmortem on some of this damage may show a defect called a codominant stem. This is a place where two or more stems (branches/leaders) have come together. Now it may look…
Coming up next week is the second installment of our Blueberry Production Workshop. We had a good turnout in Jackson County and are offering it again in Washington County. We still have several seats left so follow the link below to register. CEUs will be available, all attendees will receive a free blueberry plant.
Blueberry…
Florida agriculture is huge, and sometimes, quite literally. From a 205-pound watermelon to a 45-pound spaghetti squash, some Floridians’ fruits and veggies have tipped the scales and broken state records.
Over the past 36 years, the University of Florida and its UF/IFAS Extension offices have kept record of such giants. The first entry being in…
In Florida, warm-season perennial grasses provide adequate forage during the summer months, but both forage quality and quantity are limited in the winter months. During the winter months warm-season perennial grasses go dormant because of shorter days and cooler temperatures. Many livestock producers may implement cool-season forages on their operation to help provide high quality…
Some palms are just too big to recover
In addition to trees, we had plenty of palms go down in Hurricane Ian. While a Tree care Professional/Florida Certified Arborist may best to determine if a palm is salvageable, there are few palm triage aftercare decision making points to consider. Not all damaged palms are destined for…
Jumping out from the bushes to scare us this week is Mexican petunia (Ruellia simplex). Mexican petunia is a Category 1 invasive plant, the worst category of invasiveness used by the Florida Invasive Species Council. Category 1 invasive plants change how our natural ecosystems function wreaking havoc on native plants and wildlife species and causing costly economic damage.…
Fall is here, and it’s time to huddle up to prepare your tailgate plans for football season—no need to scramble at home or while away. Health and nutrition can be part of your plans while enjoying delicious pre-game delights. Traditionally your tailgate may include oily snack chips, fatty meats, and dipping sauces galore. Those choices…
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is associated with many dangerous activities. Football players wear helmets, soccer players shin guards, construction workers have safety glasses (sounds like the start of The Village People!). Even pesticide applicators have equipment like gloves, goggles, and respirators they must wear, but does it matter? With Halloween just around the corner we…
t’s spooky season, and we want to get you in the mood with some ghosts, goblins, and Halloween… crabs? Organisms are often named for something else they resemble, and that is especially true for marine creatures. Whether they are named for looking like the moon, coming out at night like a ghost, or just do…
Trick Or Treat: Sweet Alternatives
By Syreeta McDonald, Extension Intern
For most people, October marks the beginning of the holiday season. If you celebrate Halloween, you are likely already stocking up on the seasonal candy to pass out to all the costumed kids that knock on your door. Having all those sweets around can become…
October 16, 2022 is World Food Day! Molluscan shellfish aquaculture is Florida’s largest food-use aquaculture industry. Shellfish provide benefits for water quality and marine environmental habitats, plus they taste great! IFAS is celebrating Food Week from October 17 to October 21st. To celebrate, we have provided a couple of resources to learn more about Florida’s shellfish…
