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by REBEKAH PIERCE As the air turns just a little bit crisper and we inch closer to winter, it’s time, once again, for the Highlands County Garden Festival. Since its modest beginnings, this day (much like the plants it celebrates!) has blossomed into a vibrant event, drawing plant lovers and curious families alike. Judith Bentley […]

by ANDREA NIKOLAI, UF/IFAS Polk Extension The Peanut Butter Challenge is an annual jar collection for local food pantries hosted by UF/IFAS Extension and Florida A&M University (FAMU) Cooperative Extension. Launched in the Florida Panhandle counties in 2012, it is again spreading statewide this year.  Unopened jars of peanut butter can be donated to the

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS  First, University of Florida scientists developed technology to kill weeds, instead of strawberries. Now, UF/IFAS researchers are designing a machine that can surgically eliminate weeds while preserving the tomatoes and peppers around them utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and sensor fusion. Vinay Vijayakumar, a doctoral student working under the supervision of Yiannis

Florida Ag in the Classroom Creates Resources to Teach Tomorrow’s Leaders Today by RYAN MILEJCZAK It’s not hard to see the importance of agricultural education. Not only does it foster the next generation of ag workers, it also helps young people better understand everything that goes into the food they eat. But resources for agricultural

by BRAD BUCK, KAREN BRASHER, and ERIN YATESUF/IFAS Artificial intelligence (AI) can help feed the world and preserve our natural resources. To maximize the bandwidth of AI, scientists are working together to develop robotics and precision agriculture, use drones effectively and more. Recognizing the strength of collaboration, universities across the South are launching centers where

UF/IFAS Puts Florida Agricultural Production Losses From Hurricane Debby at More Than $93 Million by UF/IFAS The agricultural production losses Florida experienced due to Hurricane Debby have an estimated value between $93.7 million and $263.2 million, according to a preliminary UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP) report based on producer surveys. The Category 1 storm

Dundee Citrus Growers Association Celebrates a Century of Innovation & Adaptation by RYAN MILEJCZAK One hundred years ago, a group of citrus growers banded together in Dundee to create a cooperative that would allow them to pool their resources and buying power. This cooperative took the name Dundee Citrus Growers Association, and this year, they’re

by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida It’s officially fall, and that means it’s time for delicious autumn veggies like eggplant, sweet potatoes, and — perhaps best of all — squash. Squash comes in a variety of forms, and many of them are grown right here in Florida. In fact, with a

Growers Speculate on Season and Challenges Ahead Editor’s Note: The reporting and interviews for this story were done the week before Hurricane Milton swept through Central Florida and the USDA issued its official citrus forecast. Stay tuned for further updates. by PAUL CATALA Despite some of the setbacks plaguing citrus over the past couple of

by NAFARI MORRIS Each year, after Ag-Venture wraps up, its 11-member board is able to sit back and appreciate the fruits of their labor. But not for too long. The next day, they get started planning next year’s event.  The board and its army of volunteers are preparing for the 25th installment of Ag-Venture, a