IN LATE SPRING 2015, I had the opportunity to visit the UF/IFAS Balm Research Center and meet with plant breeder Dr. Zhanao Deng. He explained to me that he was setting up a trial for the discovery of new varieties of pomegranates that will grow and produce in our subtropical climate. His need was to […]
Mature compost can make a difference Read More »
Research center celebrates anniversary and expansion at the Florida Ag Expo WE’RE OLD, BUT WE’RE NOT HARD OF HEARING. The Gulf Coast Research and Education Center is about to have a 90th birthday party on November 4. One of the reasons we’re throwing it is to hear from you. Not that we don’t talk throughout
GCREC 90 years young and still growing Read More »
UF/IFAS rebuilding research ranks with new funding POLK, HILLSBOROUGH and surrounding Florida farmers and natural resource managers are about to reap a huge brain gain. In its recently passed budget, the state Legislature provided enough money to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to hire more than 45 new faculty members.
Taking a teamwork approach to science Read More »
FLORIDA’S FARMERS, growers, and ranchers increasingly are changing up and adding to the mix of the crops they produce, the livestock they raise and the forage they provide. Some call it agricultural diversification. Some call it alternative farming. Many call it smart business.
Expert lending advice for diversification or alternative farming Read More »
BEING BORN AND RAISED in Central Florida, I happen to know lot of folks in the Sunshine State who like the University of Florida sports teams (and a lot them who don’t). But, even if you are an anti-die-hard UF sports fan — if you have any kind of appreciation for agriculture — there are
From the Editor’s Desk: New citrus varieties available for live field trials Read More »
As Congress debates our nation’s immigration laws, we are reminded that having a capable, available workforce is critical to agricultural businesses. When that workforce is not locally available, farmers look to foreign workers to help harvest their crops. [emember_protected custom_msg=”Click here and register now to read the rest of the article!”] The federal H-2A program
The legalities of farmworker housing Read More »
Spring is upon us and, with it, more persistent winds that spread disease in the fields. It’s time to reconsider the benefits of windbreaks, or trees and shrubs used to limit crop damage from the wind. [emember_protected custom_msg=”Click here and register now to read the rest of the article!”] On the plus side, windbreaks have
Windbreaks embraced for limiting crop damage, disease Read More »
During the school year, Melissa Gulvin organizes school trips to agricultural locations, so students attending Polk County schools can see for themselves how these farms operate. It’s proven, she has found, to be an eye-opening experience for the kids. [emember_protected custom_msg=”Click here and register now to read the rest of the article!”] But Gulvin’s central
@griTech: Students learn the value of water through science Read More »
As winter fades and crops begin to blossom, it is once again time to diligently apply granular and spray fertilizers and pesticides. We have inventoried how much of each material we have on hand and begun preparing an order list. Prices vary a lot, so you will want to shop for supplies. Even if you
Land Management: Time for Fertilizer and Pesticide Applications Read More »
A decade ago, Rich Budell notes, a GPS device wasn’t all that common. Times, he added, have definitely changed. “Everybody has one in their car now,” Budell says. But if a Global Positioning Satellite device has become a widely popular tool, it isn’t just motorists looking for the right directions to an unknown destination who
@griTech: Tools Used on the Farm that Promote Precision and Conservation Read More »
