UF/IFAS News: Peanut Butter Challenge, plant and animal breeding initiative, One Night in the Tropics and more

A message from UF/IFAS Communications | Reply For the week beginning Sept. 22, 2025 TIMELY NEWS While the calendar says "Fall" -- conjuring visions of leaves turning and relief from heat and humidity -- it's still quite warm in Florida. So UF/IFAS experts urge you to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids - and they don't always have to be water.  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. Protein to feed a family: It’s time for the annual Peanut Butter Challenge Spread the word – or in this case, the peanut butter! The 14th annual Peanut Butter Challenge gives people across the state a chance to donate jars of the protein-packed spread to hungry Floridians. Donations will be accepted at local Extension offices from Sept. 29 through Nov. 24. Contact > From risk to rescue: Life-saving tractor safety videos every farmer needs One of the most dangerous tools in farming is the tractor. As we mark National Farm Safety and Health Week, a new series of videos from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) gives practical tips to stay as safe as possible while operating tractors. Contact > Oct. 11: Celebrate Fall at the UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie Ag-Xtension Fall Festival Fall enthusiasts, bring your families and friends to celebrate the season at the Ag-Xtension Fall Festival, hosted by the UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County. A beloved tradition, the festival has become one of the most popular free seasonal gatherings held in St. Lucie County. Contact > University of Florida to be new host for plant and animal breeding accelerator program The University of Florida is the new home for an important partner in the effort to provide nutritious food for the nation and to keep farms competitive – a USDA-Agricultural Research Service-funded program called Breeding Insight (BI). The initiative supports public breeding efforts via more than 61 programs at the USDA as well as university-based programs across the country. Contact > Nov. 1: One Night in the Tropics launches $180K Challenge to support future agriculture leaders This year’s One Night in the Tropics event will launch Challenge 180, a fundraising initiative to raise $180,000 by 2026 to fully fund one Ph.D. student for four years. This includes tuition and a living stipend, ensuring our students can dedicate themselves fully to their research and academic development. Contact > Nuevo contenido en español para esta semana. Tenemos una variedad de publicaciones de UF/IFAS que ahora se traducen al español para darle un mejor servicio a nuestras comunidades de habla hispana. A continuación encontrarás nuestras publicaciones e infográficos más recientes. Proteína para alimentar a una familia: llegó la hora del Reto Anual de la Mantequilla de Maní Corra la voz: el 14º Reto Anual de la Mantequilla de Maní está por empezar. Esta iniciativa ofrece a personas de todo el estado la oportunidad de donar frascos de esta nutritiva fuente de proteína para apoyar a los floridanos que enfrentan inseguridad alimentaria. Se aceptarán donaciones en las oficinas locales del servicio de Extensión de UF/IFAS del 29 de septiembre al 24 de noviembre. Contacto > Del riesgo al rescate: Videos sobre el uso seguro de tractores que salvan vidas y que todo agricultor necesita conocer Al conmemorar la Semana Nacional de la Seguridad y la Salud Agrícola, una nueva serie de videos de University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) ofrece consejos prácticos para operar tractores de manera segura. Además, César Asuaje, agente regional especializado en agricultura de la Extensión UF/IFAS en el Condado de Palm Beach, ofrece capacitación sobre seguridad en el uso de tractores y cuenta con un video en español. Contacto > One Night in the Tropics propone un desafío de $180000 para apoyar a los futuros líderes agrícolas El evento One Night in The Tropics de este año presentará el Desafío 180, una iniciativa destinada a recaudar $180 000 para el año 2026, con el fin de financiar completamente los estudios de un candidato doctoral durante cuatro años. Esta contribución cubrirá la matrícula y proporcionará un estipendio para gastos de manutención, permitiéndole al estudiante dedicarse plenamente a su investigación y crecimiento académico. Contacto > From Around IFAS News from across the UF/IFAS network. Learn Through Listening: A Hurricane Podcast Series Naturally Florida is in its fifth season as a podcast and is excited to announce a new series, all about hurricanes. Naturally Florida is designed to teach listeners about Florida’s natural areas and the wild things that live here.  Blueberries: A 'Berry' Good Choice for Cancer Prevention Blueberries are more than just a sweet snack. They are rich in nutrients that support good health. These berries are packed with antioxidants, especially anthocyanins, which give blueberries their deep blue color. Antioxidants help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, which may play a role in cancer development. UF/IFAS experts give update on New World Screwworm As Mexico confirms a new case of New World screwworm (NWS), UF/IFAS faculty held a webinar to talk about monitoring, reporting cases and protecting animals from the fly.  Best of the rest. Alternative story formats created or supported by UF/IFAS Communications. Our blogs share knowledge: Trees help reduce temperatures in cities — how can we get more of them? Urban heat is a common issue faced by residents of both dense metropolitan areas and suburban developments. But did you know trees have several ways they can help us beat the heat?  Video stories: UF/IFAS Food Safety Tips for Hurricanes UF/IFAS food safety expert Keith Schneider has tips for how you can prepare for a hurricane and how to keep your food safe during the storm.  RELATED ARTICLE: Food Safety After a Hurricane: When to Throw It Away Visual learning: Helping bats helps humans! While bats can carry viruses that can make humans ill, the best way to protect human health is to protect natural habitats of bats. When left alone in their natural environments, bats pose little risk to human health.  EN ESPAÑOL: ¡Ayudar a los murciélagos ayuda a los humanos! 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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