A message from UF/IFAS Communications | Reply |
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For the week beginning May 11, 2026 |
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As artificial intelligence permeates most areas of work, UF/IFAS is keeping an eye on the bleeding edge through investment into AgTech to improve how crops are grown, evaluated and sold. UF/IFAS has sources ready to talk about artificial intelligence, AgTech and precision agriculture. |
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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. |
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| Wakulla County 4‑H youth are taking a leadership role in substance abuse prevention by creating opportunities for teens to talk openly and honestly with their peers about drugs and alcohol through the Prevention Before Intervention campaign. |
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Florida’s soils present unique challenges for growers, land managers and residents. The state’s year-round tropical weather and vast agricultural acreage create ideal conditions, but its soils vary widely from nutrient-poor sandy to highly organic soils, depending on location, prompting research into soil amendments such as volcanic rock dust. |
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| As the spring brings warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours, wildlife across Florida becomes more active. That includes the Eastern indigo snake, a protected, nonvenomous species that’s also North America’s longest black snake. |
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As drought continues to dry out Florida’s landscapes and wildfires spread, smoke in the air can be hard to ignore. But experts with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) say it may also be a sign of efforts to keep fires from becoming more dangerous. |
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| Farmers in Florida’s $500 million-a-year strawberry industry recently wrapped up a season, and already the next one is casting a shadow. Scientists are predicting a good chance of a pesky strawberry disease, all due to the predicted El Niño weather pattern. |
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Return ‘Em Right (RER) teaches reef and deep-water anglers to recognize the symptoms of barotrauma and use release gear to increase their rate of survival. Starting on May 13, 2026, eligible anglers that complete Return ‘Em Right’s free educational training can receive a release gear kit valued at $100 by covering only the cost of shipping and handling. |
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When Benjamin Wolking was raising goats in his high school Florida 4-H program in Micanopy, Florida, he never imagined the hands-on experience would lead him toward a career in biomedical engineering. But the problem-solving skills he learned through the UF/IFAS-led youth development program — the largest of its kind in the nation — were transformative. And Wolking is not alone. |
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News from across the UF/IFAS network. |
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| Since 2024, Pamela Salvador Dutra has worked in the lab of Megan Dewdney, Ph.D., an extension scientist and associate professor of plant pathology at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center. The lab’s research focuses on the epidemiology of multiple plant pathogens, including Phyllosticta citricarpa, the fungal pathogen responsible for citrus black spot, or CBS. |
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Florida’s agricultural industry plays a vital role in the state’s economy, environment, and communities. From farming and ranching to forestry and seafood production, agricultural producers across all 67 counties help provide food, fiber, and natural resources that support Florida’s residents and visitors every day. While agriculture is essential to the state’s success, the demands of agricultural work can create significant stressors that affect both physical and mental well-being. |
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| Cotton prices continue with an eight as the front number. I’m not surprised by this, given the mix of bullish factors now in play. But, I’d be less than 100 percent honest if I didn’t also look at this with a somewhat cautious eye. It’s a natural reaction, and I know many growers are taking the same approach. A lot is still unknown and could change as we proceed forward. |
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Alternative story formats created or supported by UF/IFAS Communications. |
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| Florida and the southern United States are home to a number of magnolia species, from the classic Southern magnolia to the smaller, silver-leafed sweet bay magnolia found in freshwater wetlands (and grandma’s gumbo). But the bigleaf magnolia is one you’ll never forget. |
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In this video, UF/IFAS Associate Professor Sarah Strauss explains the fascinating world of soil microbiology. Research into soil microbiology may offer solutions in combating citrus greening. Strauss' team is utilizing artificial intelligence to push this research even further. |
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| This UF/IFAS infographic explains the methods for how and why to follow Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles, such as how to manage yard pests, recycling and concepts of "right plant, right place." |
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Visit the UF/IFAS Newsroom |
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News and Media Relations Team |
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