IFAS In Your Corner

by LUIS RODRIGUEZ, UF/IFAS Polk Extension Florida’s agricultural industry is both vast and diverse, containing the production of key crops such as citrus, strawberries, and watermelons. These crops play a vital role in supporting food security across the region and beyond. In intensive farming systems, the responsible application of pesticides is essential to ensure effective […]

Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) are aggressive pests that invade homes, farms, and landscapes across the southeastern U.S. These ants are notorious for their painful stings and aggressive behavior. There are two species: the red and black imported fire ants. While the black species is mainly found in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, the red imported

by LUIS RODRIGUEZ, UF/IFAS One of the most common issues in farming is water management. Some farmers can misuse water resources when over- or under-irrigating crops or by mismanagement of farm runoff. This could create problems such as pollution, nutrient loss, and reduction in crop quality. For this reason, farmers are encouraged to implement water

by DAVID AUSTIN, UF/IFAS Those Pesky Bugs If you are like many people, you might cringe at seeing some unknown creature crawling across your prized plant. Your Spidey senses might kick in, and you may want to act. Before you reach for a spray bottle, please take a breather and identify your new invader. It

by LUIS RODRIGUEZ Strawberries are among the most popular fruit crops. Unfortunately, a fungal disease known as Powdery Mildew can occur in most places where strawberries are grown.  What Is Powdery Mildew? Powdery Mildew is a fungal disease that affects strawberry leaves, flowers, and fruit. Early signs on leaves include small white patches on the

by LUIS RODRIGUEZ 2025 is here, and that brings a whole new year of farming. Knowing what we can do to protect our crops could help farmers minimize economic losses due to pest problems. Farmers must manage pests effectively to protect their crops and their investments. A pest can be any organism, like insects, weeds,

by Brad Buck Instead of taking what the broker or retailer feels like paying, small- and medium-sized farmers who sell directly to consumers should track costs, determine what they want to earn, and set their own produce prices, University of Florida experts say.  Growers should base their prices on their costs, said Kim Morgan, a

by LUIS RODRIGUEZ Florida faces many pests that harm crops and ornamental plants, including thrips, which cause significant economic losses. While they mostly overwinter, understanding thrips can help control them when they become active in warmer months. Thrips Description Thrips are tiny insects (1-2 mm) with piercing-sucking mouthparts that extract plant sap. While many species

by LUIS RODRIGUEZ, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Farming comes with inherent risks, especially from weather events. While farmers can prepare for hurricanes and other severe weather conditions, ultimately, no one can control the weather. Each year, it is estimated that hurricanes and other adverse weather events cause billions of dollars in damage to Florida’s crops

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS photos by TYLER JONES, UF/IFAS  For about 20 years, Colin Furness and his family have bred and raised miniature cattle and donkeys, and specialized in getting people started with their own herd of mini livestock.  They raise registered Herefords, Florida Cracker cattle and a crossbreed they call “crackerfords.” They also run