UF/IFAS News: Scalloping season starts; UF scientists sequence lantana genome; Sweaty cattle boost food security

A message from UF/IFAS Communications | Reply For the week beginning June 10, 2024 TIMELY NEWS From June 17-23, we celebrate National Pollinator Week, an optimal time to remember their benefits. Three-fourths of the world's food crops depend on pollinators to reproduce. That's one out of every three bites you eat. Want to know more about bees? Check out these links. Need an expert? Contact us. Recent research, programs, events and more. We can help you cover and localize news to your area; just use the contact links below or reply to this email. UF, Florida Sea Grant offer free tool as scalloping season starts Florida’s recreational scalloping season begins Saturday with shores off Dixie County and part of Taylor County opening for harvest and those along other Gulf Coast counties soon to follow. This year, Florida Sea Grant and UF/IFAS are introducing a newly designed orange and blue scallop sorting tool.  Contact > RELATED INFOGRAPHIC: Scalloping best practices. RELATED INFOGRAPHIC: In Spanish. Meet Berkley Barnes: From shy 4-H mini-member to legislative change agent Through the Florida 4-H youth development program, 17-year-old St. Lucie resident Berkley Barnes transformed from a shy youth into a confident leader, successfully advocating for 4-H and FFA participants in Florida’s 2024 agricultural bill. Contact > UF scientists meeting craft brewer demand by converting hops to pellets 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. Contact > UF scientists sequence a lantana genome, helping researchers prevent spread of invasive forms of the plant A University of Florida scientist has sequenced the genome of one representative type of lantana, research that will help other plant breeders develop sterile varieties and help researchers control the plant from spreading. Contact > Sweaty cattle may boost food security in a warming world A new study from UF/IFAS Professor Raluca Mateescu and her colleagues shows it’s possible to identify the genes within breeds of cattle that would lead to the sweatiest, heat-tolerant offspring. Contact > From Around Florida News from across the UF/IFAS network.   Harvesting health: Medicinal plants for the Central Florida garden Central Florida’s ample sunlight and moderate rainfall create optimal conditions for cultivating a diverse array of herbs celebrated for their medicinal qualities. Gardeners and herbal enthusiasts in the region can establish vibrant medicinal gardens.  Foodborne Chagas disease causes severe symptoms and may be more common than we think As the kissing bug bites its victim and creates open wounds, it also crawls around dropping infected feces. It’s the perfect setup for T. cruzi to enter the body. The resulting infection is known as Chagas disease, and it affects muscles in the heart and gut.  Sunday is Father's Day: Have you thought of something special to honor him? Father’s Day holiday became a national holiday in 1972 and is officially celebrated on the third Sunday of June. The purpose of honoring our father is unchanged. Many of us have lost our father, but some of us have been fortunate enough to have another male figure present in our lives that continues to represent this to us. Best of the rest. Alternative story formats created or supported by UF/IFAS Communications. Our blogs share knowledge: Basics of Landscaping in Florida/Conceptos Básicos del Paisajismo en Florida We are pleased to announce our newest publication, Basics of Landscaping in Florida/Conceptos Básicos del Paisajismo en Florida, developed collaboratively by UF/IFAS Extension professionals Hannah Wooten from Orange County, Morgan Pinkerton and Tina McIntyre from Seminole County and Tatiana Sanchez-Jones from Alachua County. Video stories: Hurricane boat preparation - store on a canal As a hurricane approaches your area, are you prepared? This video covers methods to prepare and store your boat on a canal or small river during these devastating storms. flseagrant.org. Contact > En Espanol: Preparación de su Bote ante Huracanes - Dejando su bote en un canal o río pequeño   Visual learning: Septic system care after heavy rainfall Septic systems are most susceptible to issues after periods of heavy rainfall, including after a hurricane. Flooding and power outages may impact the system. Here are some tips on what to look for and how to prevent further issues. ¡NUEVO! EN ESPAÑOL: Cuidad del sistema séptico después de una tormenta Contacto > Visit the UF/IFAS Newsroom Find B-roll, photos and more for your coverage needs at ifas.ufl.edu/newsroom. UF/IFAS Communications News and Media Relations Team

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