See information on the basics of summer cover crops for Florida growers from a UF/IFAS Tip of the Week article. “If you are looking for a method to invest in your soil health, cover crops are one option;” that’s the message in a UF/IFAS Tip of the Week article, published on Citrus Industry’s website. The article shared information on the basics of summer cover crops for Florida growers. See the details below. Summer Cover Crops for Florida Growers The article shared these details about summer cover crops for Florida growers: “Improvements to soil health from planting cover crops can take time ..read more

Soil pH plays a huge role in nutrient availability, especially where micro-sprinkler irrigation has raised soil pH. “Soil pH influences nutrient availability;”is the sentiment of a Citrus Industry article written by UF/IFAS citrus Extension agent, Chris Oswalt. The article also explains how soil pH affects the availability of the big three—nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. See the details below. Nutrient Availability Affected by Nutrient Availability The article shared that the effects of soil pH on nutrient availability are “similar to conditions in the wetted zone where micro-sprinkler ir ..read more

See the details of a citrus grower trial that showed the extreme importance of irrigation frequency for citrus trees. The name of the game in the Florida citrus industry at this time is to keep citrus trees from being stressed to keep them as healthy as possible. The majority of Florida citrus trees are infected with citrus greening, also called HLB, and the current best practices include reducing tree stress. A recent Citrus Industry article shared the details of a citrus grower trial that proved the great importance of irrigation frequency for Florida citrus. Explore the details below. The I ..read more

See all of the ways that fire ants and Ag don’t mix and why you should be mindful of keeping them away from your ag operation. No one likes fire ants, but they are especially detrimental to agriculture. It’s important to stay on top of this destructive insect. A Citrus Industry article shared all the ways fire ants and Ag are a bad combo. See the details below. The Bad Combination of Fire Ants and Ag The article shared the ways that fire ants and ag do not mix: “Fire Ants Can Deal Damage. Fire ants can take a toll on essential equipment and infrastructure, resulting in downtime and economic c ..read more

Attend the Landscape University CEU Day on May 15th, presented by UF/IFAS Extension Lake County. UF/IFAS Extension Lake County is hosting Landscape University CEU Day. According to a UF/IFAS blog, it is “a fun morning of learning together in person” with Extension Agent hosts from UF/IFAS Extension Lake, Orange, and Seminole Counties presenting information. The recently written “Basics of Landscaping in Florida/ Conceptos Basicos de Paisajismo en Florida,” a bilingual landscaping training booklet will also be available. See the details of the event below. Landscape University CEU Day Details T ..read more

See tips to manage the eastern lubber grasshopper, a pest that will eat many plants, including citrus and vegetables. A recent UF/IFAS blog shared information on the eastern lubber grasshopper, including tips on managing the pest. According to the blog, the grasshoppers “are out in force throughout the Southeast, including some parts of Florida. They’re munching away on landscape plants, citrus and vegetable crops…” It is described as varying degrees of yellow and black, a bit slow and clumsy, and also notable for being so big. They damage crops and ornamentals by feeding on leaves; they can e ..read more

Florida’s Ag Commissioner issued a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Emergency Rule to protect Florida cattle and other livestock. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been detected in domestic livestock in eight states, according to a Southeast AgNet article. HPAI is commonly known as Bovine Associated Influenza A Syndrome (H5N1) in livestock, and Florida Ag Commissioner, Wilton Simpson, issued Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Emergency Rule, or Emergency Rule 5CER24-4, to protect Florida’s cattle and other livestock. While the article maintains that the disease has not been detected ..read more

The 2025 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge with a prize of $100,000 is accepting applications by June 15th. Are you an entrepreneur with a product or invention that could solve a challenge in agriculture? Submit your idea to win a slice of $145,000 in startup funds from the 2025 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge by June 15th. See the details of this competition, now in its 11th year, below. Details of the 2025 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge The 2025 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge is “a national business competition that showcases U.S. startups developing innovative solutions that ..read more

See the ins and outs of using particle film on citrus from the UF/IFAS Tip of the Week article for Florida citrus growers. Many Florida citrus growers are turning to using particle film on citrus to help mitigate the effects of citrus greening and improve the health of their citrus trees. The latest UF/IFAS Tip of the Week article shared the conclusions of research on particle film. See a breakdown of the specific information from the article below. What is Particle Film? According to the article, “Particle films are simply a suspension of microscopic solid inert particles that can be sprayed ..read more

The 2022 Census of Agriculture was released by the USDA in March; see statistics from it about Florida agriculture. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has released the 2022 Census of Agriculture. It included “more than 6 million data points about America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them down to the county level,” according to a Florida Farm Bureau article. While the article maintains the census shows “a continued decline in the total number of Florida farms,” it also shows “a rise in the number of new and beginning (op ..read more