IFAS In Your Corner

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

by LUIS RODRIGUEZ In Florida, many organisms are plant pests. Among these are arthropods. Arthropods include a vast group including centipedes, millipedes, spiders, mites, horseshoe crabs, scorpions, insects, and crustaceans. Not all arthropods are pests, but those that are pests could cause serious problems to our crops if not controlled properly. The most common arthropod

by HANNAH BAKER, State Specialized Agent, Beef & Forage Economics One decision that has to be made every year by cattle producers is what to do with open cows. Culling season is about to be in full swing as calves are being weaned and shipped off and cows are being evaluated on whether they should

by LUIS RODRIGUEZ photo by TYLER JONES, UF/IFAS Many farmers are considering agritourism as a new source of revenue for their farms aside from their regular agricultural activities. An “agritourism activity” means any agricultural-related activity consistent with a “bona fide” farm, livestock operation, ranch, or in a working forest that allows members of the general

by LUIS RODRIGUEZ, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Many things can be considered pests. Some of these pests include arthropods (insects and mites), weeds, mammals like birds or wild hogs, plant diseases, and nematodes. This last one could be overlooked because we cannot see them without a microscope. What Are Nematodes? Nematodes are microscopic roundworms that