From the Desk of Dr. Angle

By J. Scott Anglejangle@ufl.edu@IFAS_VP Back in the early 1990s, aquaculture was a niche industry, a loosely connected group of largely self-taught producers, according to Marty Tanner, a longtime Florida aquaculture producer and leader. Craig Watson and the founding of the UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory (TAL) in Ruskin helped change that, Tanner said. The establishment of …

DiMaggio Will Lift Aquaculture Lab to Central Role in Industry Read More »

By J. Scott Angle jangle@ufl.edu @IFAS_VP It is expensive to seek science-based solutions to strawberry diseases. So is failing to seek them. So when pestalotia arrived here, the Florida Strawberry Growers Association chose to invest in science—again. This time, it was a six-figure check to help UF/IFAS strawberry breeder Vance Whitaker launch a wide-scale search …

FSGA’s Unique Support is key to Industry’s Success Read More »

By J. Scott Angle jangle@ufl.edu @IFAS_VP Without one of the most ancient of technologies, the wheel, we might not be celebrating the centennial of Wish Farms here in Plant City. Its #AgIsAmerica story starts on the streets of Manhattan in a single pushcart selling fruits and vegetables. It continues with the Wishnatzkis migrating to Central …

Happy Centennial, Wish Farms Read More »

By J. Scott Angle jangle@ufl.edu @IFAS_VP If you’re a regular reader of Central Florida Ag News, you may have seen the big news about a planned UF/IFAS ag tech center in Hillsborough County. This center is one of the best ways we know how to keep you globally competitive. Simply put, innovation is what has …

We’re Making AI Accessible to Every Florida Farmer Read More »

By J. Scott Angle jangle@ufl.edu @IFAS_VP They’ve long been local 4-H legends. Now they’ve been inducted as Florida 4-H Hall of Famers: Judy Raymond of Polk County and Carl and Dee Dee Grooms of Hillsborough County are among this year’s inductees. UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Director Nicole Walker and 4-H agent Shreemoyee Ghosh nominated Raymond …

Local 4-H Legends Inducted into Hall of Fame Read More »

There’s a future for Florida citrus because of people like Steven Callaham. He serves Florida agriculture, he sells a vision, and he relies on good solid science to innovate his way through the HLB crisis. That last part is where UF/IFAS comes in. Arnold Schumann of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center has done …

When Science Makes You a Believer Read More »

Like your Extension agent, I can’t do an important part of my job from the office, unless you consider a Ford Explorer an office. To visit face-to-face with Extension agents, researchers, farmers, and ranchers, I drive 30,000 miles a year. When I joined UF/IFAS in July 2020, I pledged to visit Extension offices in all …

A Fulfilled Pledge and a Promise for the Future Read More »

Marshal Sewell grew up in a strawberry farming family in Plant City wanting to be a farmer. Casey Simmons Runkles grew up in a strawberry farming family in Plant City wanting to be anything else. Hillsborough County agriculture is fortunate that neither succeeded. They’re two of the area’s emerging agricultural leaders. But Sewell left his …

Advocating for Hillsborough County Agriculture Read More »

By J. Scott Angle jangle@ufl.edu @IFAS_VP   UF/IFAS continues an all-hands-on-deck/solutions-now response to HLB to accelerate our science to the speed of need.   This preceded my arrival, but since I became the leader of UF/IFAS two years ago my message to our researchers has been to focus first on what can benefit growers right …

UF/IFAS Focusing on Fast Help for Growers Read More »

by J. Scott Angle jangle@ufl.edu @IFAS_VP   An important way UF/IFAS supports the local blueberry industry is the development of new varieties. Another way we help is the development of new leaders.   If you’re active in the industry, this roster will sound familiar to you: Florida Blueberry Growers Association (FBGA) Executive Director Brittany Lee, …

Wedgworth Creates Leaders and Role Models Read More »