Latest News

by MIKE LOIZZO, UF/IFAS What happens to nutrients and metals in soil long after biosolids—a byproduct from sewage treatment—have been applied to the land? That’s the question JoAnn Donald, a graduate student in the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES), set out to answer. The research study appears in the journal Geoderma Regional. […]

by MEREDIT BAUER, UF/IFAS Florida 4-H is proud to announce Florida Power & Light (FPL) has been awarded the 2025 Friend of 4-H Award by the Florida Association of Extension 4-H Agents (FAE4-HA). This recognition, presented during Florida Extension’s Professional Associations Conference and Symposium, celebrates FPL’s support and commitment to empowering young Floridians through the

by MEGAN WINSLOW, UF/IFAS Applying fertilizer requires a careful balancing act between using too little — which can be insufficient to support plant growth — and applying too much, which wastes money and can hurt the environment. A newly published UF/IFAS review explains how enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) like controlled-release and slow-release varieties can help farmers maximize

by LOURDES MEDEROS, UF/IFAS Scientists confirm that two of the world’s most destructive invasive termite species are not only spreading in the United States but also hybridizing – the process of two different species crossbreeding to produce a hybrid. This raises concerns about their potential to spread farther and cause even greater structural and environmental

by LOURDES MEDEROS, UF/IFAS A new University of Florida study shows how drones can do more than just take aerial pictures and videos—they can help farmers grow better hemp by seeing the health of their crops with some artificial intelligence assistance. Researchers at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in

by MEGAN WINSLOW, UF/IFAS The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced an investigation this week of a salmonella outbreak linked to a South Florida cucumber grower. As of Wednesday, when the latest FDA update was issued, the investigation included 26 illnesses in 15 states, including in Florida. Salmonella symptoms include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, but life-threatening

by LOURDES MEDEROS, UF/IFAS Sandwiched between International Compost Week in early May and National Composting Day on May 29, a new initiative with the University of Florida is taking shape as cities across the nation embrace composting as a sustainable solution to food waste. Mica McMillan, assistant professor of environmental horticulture at the UF/IFAS Fort

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS Brooks Parrish has spent the past three years studying the genetics of lantana. These plants are beautiful, but if they’re not properly contained, they can escape cultivation, invade natural and agricultural lands, displace native plants, reduce biodiversity and pose risks to animals. Parrish graduated with his Ph.D. from the UF/IFAS College

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS As much as Norman Hall’s red bricks and gothic arches, the massive live oak tree in the courtyard was a defining feature of the University of Florida College of Education. Hurricane Helene toppled the tree in September, but it will live on through its sprouts, some of which may be planted