IFAS In Your Corner

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

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS Many craft brewers prefer to make their product using hops pellets because of several advantages they provide over whole cone hops. To address a request by Tampa Bay-area craft brewers, University of Florida scientists are converting the crop they grow into pellets. “Brewers use several forms of hops to make beer,

by LUIS RODRIGUEZ, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Cover crops are used to improve soil fertility in farms or agricultural operations, and some of them are also used to control root-knot nematodes. Cover crops are traditionally used to cover bare land to protect the soil and/or improve soil characteristics between cash-crop cycles or planted alongside the