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American sand wasp "Sun Dance"

In the morning hours as unmated females are beginning to emerge from their nesting sites, groups of sand wasp males fly low overhead in irregular, circular patterns. This conspicuous, frenetic activity has been dubbed a “sun dance”.

Caimito Harvest

Clip fully mature fruit from the stem when the skin color turns dull and is slightly wrinkled and soft. Open the fruit by cutting in half and spoon out the pulp. Eat it fresh, or in fruit salads or sorbets.

Food and Water for New Chicks

Chicks can survive up to two or three days without eating or drinking right after hatching because they are able to utilize the nutrients remaining in their retained yolk sac during this time. This is how hatcheries can ship chicks all over the country with little or no mortality.

Protect Pets Safely

Both topical and collar treatments are classified and registered as pesticides and must be used accordingly.

Low-Chill Blueberry Cultivars

Florida winters aren’t cold enough for traditional northern blueberry varieties. However, low-chill cultivars have been developed specifically for our milder climate.

RECENT & REVISED PUBLICATIONS

4-H Volunteer Training Series: Recognizing Young People

4H370/4H370 by Originally written by Georgene Bender. Revised by Geralyn Sachs, Sarah Hensley, Andrew Toelle, Kelsey Cook, Marnie Ward, Shayla Reighter, Dallas Meringolo, and Courtney Quirie.May 16, 2024Developing a sense of belonging is one of the Essential Elements of a positive youth development experience. Creating an inclusive environment in your 4-H club programs and activities can help you achieve this goal. Providing many forms of recognition for all, not just for those who excel in competition with other youth, supports this sense of belonging.Critical Issue: 7. 4-H Youth Development

Biodiversity as a Tool to Boost Seagrass Restoration Success

SS728/SL515by C. Spengler, Jamila Roth, and Laura K. ReynoldsMay 14, 2024This publication reviews the importance of seagrass, major threats to seagrass, and ways in which seagrass species diversity and genetic diversity can positively impact seagrass management and restoration. Written by C. Spengler, Jamila Roth, and Laura K. Reynolds, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, March 2024.Critical Issue: 3. Natural Resources and Environmental Quality

Tillage and Overseeding Pastures for Winter Forage Production in North Florida

AG146/SS-AGR-43 by C. L. Mackowiak, J. C. B. Dubeux, S. George, D. L. Wright, A. R. Blount, and I. SmallMay 14, 2024The purpose of this publication is to provide guidance on preparing and planting annual cool-season forages on prepared seedbeds and overseeding annual cool-season forages on pastures in north Florida. Written by C. L. Mackowiak, J. C. B. Dubeux, S. George, D. L. Wright, A. R. Blount, and I. Small, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised April 2024.Critical Issue: 1. Agricultural and Horticultural Enterprises

Pesticide Mode of Action Classification: Understanding Resistance Action Committees (RACs)

PI299/PI299by Emily C. Kraus and Brett BultemeierMay 9, 2024This publication defines the concept of a pesticide mode of action and provides several examples. It emphasizes the importance of identifying and differentiating modes of action for pesticide resistance management. To this end, it defines the development and goals of the three Resistance Action Committees for insecticides (IRAC), herbicides (HRAC), and fungicides (FRAC) and describes each group’s pesticide mode of action classification scheme. Finally, it provides an example of a pesticide label and instructs applicators on how to rotate pesticides to manage resistance. This publication presents the subject matter in a concise manner and directs pesticide applicators to the very useful RAC Mode of Action group numbers for rotation purposes. Critical Issue: 1. Agricultural and Horticultural Enterprises

Living Shoreline Ecosystem Service Valuation Tool

SS729/SL516by Ashley R. Smyth, Laura K. Reynolds, Savanna C. Barry, Natalie C. Stephens, Joshua T. Patterson, and Edward V. CampMay 8, 2024Living shorelines are an increasingly popular way to protect and stabilize waterfronts for coastal property owners. Living shorelines provide valuable benefits to humans, including water quality improvement, habitat, fisheries, and carbon sequestration. Estimating the economic value of the ecosystem services living shorelines offer is an integral part of management decisions. The living shoreline valuation tool can help quantify the costs and benefits of living shorelines projects. This publication briefly describes the ecosystem services associated with living shorelines. The purpose of this publication is to introduce the ecosystem service valuation tool. Our target audience for the living shoreline evaluation tool includes natural resource extension agents, community organizations, and coastal homeowners who want to calculate the value of ecosystem services provided by coastal restoration projects, including living shorelines. Critical Issue: 3. Natural Resources and Environmental Quality

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Fun Facts

14.1%

OJ Inflation

Orange Juice prices experienced high inflation, peaking at 14.1% in January 2023, but the number of active consumers slightly increased.

$526 billion

Cost of Hurricane Damage in Florida

The cost of damage from hurricanes in Florida since 1990 is equal to that of the whole rest of the United States. Major hurricanes caused 87% of the damage.

$4.09 per lb. of N

Value of Denitrification

Based on the average wastewater treatment cost of N removal for Florida Counties. One of the ecosystem functions of Living Shorelines is enhanced denitrification.

18,728

Pest Management Jobs

The Florida pest management industry accounted for more than 14% of the industry’s establishments in 2021

95°F

Proper Temperature for Baby Chicks

Newly hatched chicks need to be maintained at 95°F for the first week of their lives. After the first week, chicks can tolerate temperatures 5°F cooler for each week until they are four weeks old.