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by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS Vegetable growers use herbicides to kill weeds to prevent crop loss. Meanwhile, a University of Florida researcher is using artificial intelligence to reduce herbicide sprayed on crops. “We are building multiple AI-powered herbicide application units, each of which works in different ways,” said Nathan Boyd a UF/IFAS weed scientist and horticultural

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS Managing orange groves in Florida – a state prone to hurricanes and citrus greening disease – is no easy task. But for fifth-generation citrus grower and University of Florida alum Morgan McKenna Porter, it’s a passion. “[Growing up], I developed a love for the outdoors, thanks to my family, from riding

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS A few weeks after Yiannis Ampatzidis started working at the University of Florida in 2017, Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on the Florida peninsula and its citrus groves. Growers needed to count their trees with precision to get crop insurance, but it was a laborious, time-intensive task. The storm served as a

The estimate revises expectations to 11.5 million boxes of oranges. Bartow, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its February 2025 citrus crop forecast today, projecting 11.5 million boxes of oranges, 1.1 million boxes of grapefruit and 350,000 boxes of tangerines and tangelos for the 2024-2025 harvest season. This month’s forecast reflects a decrease in the production of oranges and grapefruit since the January

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — On Feb. 7, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson is highlighting the Florida Farm Bill and its proposal to prohibit the addition of any non-water quality additives into the public water supply, such as fluoride. The proposal will not completely remove the option of fluoridated water, as private water manufacturers will still be permitted to

Sponsored by Sen. Keith Truenow and Rep. Kaylee Tuck, this strong bill will support and grow Florida agriculture, increase consumer protection and transparency, and more. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — On February 4, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, Senator Keith Truenow, and Representative Kaylee Tuck announced legislation to support Florida agriculture and Florida’s farmers, ranchers, and

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS A name and face familiar to those in Polk County and across the UF/IFAS Southwest Extension District has been named interim director of the district. Nicole Walker, director of UF/IFAS Extension Polk County and associate director of the Southwest Extension District, has been selected to lead during the search for a

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS You can taste them now – sweet, succulent strawberries. February and March mark the peak time for Florida strawberry production, and University of Florida experts point to several reasons consumers gobble up the juicy fruit. “Strawberries are tasty because they are sweet and slightly tangy. This comes from the sugars and

WINTER HAVEN, Fla, — The Mixon Family, known for their success in Florida’s blueberry industry with the creation of SunnyRidge Farms, are making a bold return to their citrus roots. They’ve announced the hiring of industry veteran Ed Leotti, former COO of Tamiami Citrus LLC, as Vice President of Production to lead their expansion into