AgroClimate Crop Season Planning Tool: Reducing the Risk of Extreme Weather Events During Key Stages of Crop Development

Storm rising over a farm.

This 5-page publication details a new tool available to growers and Extension professionals to manage risks related to climate during seasonal planning stages. The Crop Season Planning tool is a climate-based tool that enables growers to plan planting strategies that will minimize risk to climate extremes based on historical climate data at their location. Written by Caroline G. Staub, Daniel Perondi, Diego Noleto Luz Pequeno, Patrick Troy, Michael J. Mulvaney, Calvin Perry, Brian Hayes, Willingthon Pavan, and Clyde W. Fraisse, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, March 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae525

How Likely Is a 100-Year Rainfall Event During the Next Ten Years?

Storm rising over a farm.

This 4-page fact sheet describes proper interpretation of rainfall event probabilities and recurrence intervals, particularly as they are used by engineers and water resources managers in the design and construction of hydraulic structures, such as dams, levees, and canals. This article focuses on rainfall, but its explanations and concepts can be applied to other extreme hydrologic phenomena such as flood and drought. Written by Young Gu Her, William Lusher, and Kati Migliaccio, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, March 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae523

Prevencion de Caidas: Soluciones para su hogar

Florida home and landscaped yard with a car in the driveway. Home, driveway, garage, red SUV, palm trees, flowers, shrubs, house, yard, landscaping.  UF/IFAS Photo: Tyler Jones.

Miles de adultos mayores se caen en su casa cada año. A medida en que uno envejece, su casa puede presentar algunos retos. Pero usted puede hacer cambios para que su casa cumpla con sus necesidades mientras reduce el riesgo de las caĺdas. This is the Spanish-language version of FCS2228/FY734, Fall Prevention: Solutions for Your Home. This 3-page document provides tips to help you reduce the risk of falls at home. Written by Leigh Ann Martin, Emily Minton, and Linda B. Bobroff, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, revised January 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy858

Vida Saludable: Use sus medicinas de una manera segura

Elaine Turner, left, assistant professor with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, and Paul Doering, a UF professor of pharmacy, discuss how grapefruit juice affects absorption of certain drugs Tuesday 7/3. Turner and Doering are members of a new UF committee that will produce consumer-targeted educational materials on drug interactions. Special emphasis will be placed on clarifying the "grapefruit juice effect," which experts say has been overstated in the press.

Las medicinas nos pueden hacer sentir mejor y mejorar nuestra salud, pero si no las usamos correctamente nos pueden hacer sentir peor o hasta causarnos problemas de salud mayores. This is the Spanish-language version of FCS8594/FY667, Healthy Living: Use Your Medicines Safely! This 5-page document provides tips to help you use your medicines safely. Written by Paulina Wittkowsky, Linda B. Bobroff, and Emily Minton, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, revised February 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy668

Elder Nutrition

4-H at the Senior Citizens Center

Older Floridians, their families, and communities face many issues related to aging. This 8-page fact sheet focuses on the way aging affects nutrition and diet, and choices that older adults can make to improve or maintain their health and well-being as they age. Written by Linda B. Bobroff and Martie Gillen, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, revised March 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy628

Symptoms and Treatment of Low Blood Glucose

Hand held electronic diabetes monitoring devices. Metabolic diseases, blood sugar. Image used in the 2012 Annual Research Report.

Low blood glucose, also called hypoglycemia, can be life-threatening for people with diabetes. It can be caused by eating too little food, taking too much insulin or other diabetes medication, or being extra active. If left untreated, low blood glucose can progress to diabetic coma. Everyone with diabetes needs to know the symptoms of low blood glucose so they can take action right away. This 2-page fact sheet discusses preparation, symptoms, and treatment. Written by Linda B. Bobroff, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, revised February 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy521

Nutrition for Health and Fitness: Fiber in Your Diet

Slices and wedges of oranges. Photo taken 11-08-15

Whether you call it dietary fiber, fiber, or roughage, eating a diet rich in this food component is good for your health. This 8-page fact sheet provides tips on how to include foods with fiber in your diet. Written by Linda B. Bobroff, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, revised March 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/he697

Plant and Pest Diagnosis and Identification Through DDIS

Rose specimens infected with rose rosette virus. Photo taken on 10-3-15

Pest identification and diagnosis can be difficult and often require consultation with a specialist. Extension county faculty, state specialists, and faculty of the UF/IFAS Office of Information Technology developed the Distance Diagnostic and Identification System (DDIS), which allows users to submit digital images obtained in the field or after delivery to a local Extension office for rapid diagnosis and identification of pest insects, weeds, diseases, and animals. This 4-page document discusses typical DDIS hardware and camera, the DDIS process, sample types, user roles, DDIS for Extension clientele, and DDIS Mobile. Written by J. Xin, L. Buss, C. Harmon, P. Vergot III, M. Frank, and W. Lester, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, revised March 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae225

Common Hazards to Consider During Manufacturing of Feed for Beef and Dairy Cattle

Dairy cows feeding at the Shenandoah Dairy Farm. Cow, feed, milk production. UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones.

This 6-page document provides a list of common hazards to consider in the manufacturing of cattle feeds. It discusses the importance of preventing hazards, methods of prevention, and common physical, biological, and chemical hazards. Written by Taylor Langford, Matthew Hersom, Luiz Ferraretto, Antonio Faciola, Chad Carr, and Jason Scheffler, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, March 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an343

Florida 4-H Shooting Sports Level 1 Instructor Training and Certification: Volunteer Leader Training Series

UF/IFAS Extension 4-H archery and flintlock shooting tournament. April 2005 at 4-H Camp Ocala.

A successful county Shooting Sports program is not possible without screened and trained volunteers to lead clubs. Before instructing youth in any Shooting Sports discipline and/or assisting on the range, a volunteer must meet the Florida 4-H youth protection screening requirements and complete the Florida 4-H Shooting Sports Level 1 Instructor Training. This 3-page fact sheet discusses volunteer recruitment, training, certification in other Shooting Sports disciplines, Level 2 certification, and job duties. Written by Julie P. Dillard, Heather C. Kent, and Julia S. Kelly, and published by the UF/IFAS 4-H Youth Development Department, January 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/4h382

Risk Management for 4-H Youth Development Work: Pre-Event Planning Guide and Matrix

At Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Nassau County Extension Director, Mary Williams, socializes with 4-H youth from across the state during 4-H Congress in July 2003.

This is the first publication in the Risk Management for 4-H Youth Development Work series. This series is intended to prepare UF/IFAS Extension county faculty, staff, volunteers, and youth for the important task of providing best practices in risk management strategies. This 5-page fact sheet discusses the matrix, levels of risk, probability that something will go wrong, modifications to the event or activity, and post-event assessment. Written by Dale Pracht, Paula Davis, Stefanie Prevatt, Janet Psikogios, Marilyn Norman, Kate Fogarty, and Jean Hink, and published by the UF/IFAS 4-H Youth Development Department, revised March 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/4h299

Sugarcane Cultivar Descriptive Fact Sheet: CPCL 02-6848 and CPCL 05-1201

Rosa Muchovej, assistant professor with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, takes notes on growth of sugarcane near Clewiston. While most sugarcane is now grown on the area's organic muck soils, Muchovej and other UF researchers are developing new management practices to grow cane on less desirable sandy soil, thereby minimizing the environmental impact of sugarcane farming on the Florida Everglades.

CPCL 02-6848 and CPCL 05-1201 are emerging sugarcane cultivars in Florida. Both cultivars were released commercially in 2012 and were quickly adopted by local sugarcane growers because of high yields and moderate to high resistance against major sugarcane diseases in Florida. This 4-page fact sheet provides basic information and yield and disease information to assist growers in management of these cultivars. Written by Hardev Sandhu and Wayne Davidson, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, March 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sc104

Economic Feasibility of Cooling Dry Cows: Findings and Spreadsheet

A cow in a stockade at a small dairy farm.

The negative effects of heat stress in lactating cows are well known, but only recent studies have explored those effects along with the full benefits of cooling dry cows. Recent work at the University of Florida has demonstrated the benefits of dry cow cooling on calf performance and cow health in the next lactation. This 5-page fact sheet discusses the economic losses from milk production due to heat stress, investment, utilities, maintenance, and feasibility analysis. Written by Fernanda Ferreira, Geoffrey Dahl, and Albert De Vries, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, March 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an342

The Florida Bull Test 2016-2017

Closeup of a bull.

The 17th annual Florida Bull Test Sale was held on January 21, 2017 at the conclusion of the 2016-2017 Florida Bull Test. The test evaluated the performance potential and breeding soundness of bulls consigned to the program at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC). This new 9-page fact sheet discusses test procedures, assessment of feed efficiency, test rules and regulations, health requirements, and test results. Written by Luara B. Canal, G. Cliff Lamb, and Nicolas DiLorenzo, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, February 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an341

What Is a Wireless Sensor Network?

Forage grass and an irrigation sprinkler

A wireless sensor network (WSN) is a system designed to remotely monitor and control a specific phenomenon or event. This new 2-page fact sheet discusses the advantages that the WSN has over traditional stand-alone sensors and controllers, power consumption and conservation, and WSN technologies. Written by Clyde Fraisse, Janise McNair, and Thiago Borba Onofre, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, January 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae521

Alimentacion Saludable: El calcio

Gator Go, High Protein Milk. Source: Smather's Archives.

El calcio es el mineral principal que se encuentra en nuestros huesos y dientes. Nosotros necesitamos calcio para el buen funcionamiento de los músculos y los nervios. Written by Linda B. Bobroff, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, revised January 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy069

Vida Saludable: Los alimentos pueden afectar sus medicamentos

Gator Go, High Protein Milk. Source: Smather's Archives.

Algunos alimentos pueden afectar la manera en que los medicamentos con prescripción o sin prescripción médica funcionan, ya sea retardando, disminuyendo o aumentando la cantidad del medicamento que el cuerpo absorbe. Esto puede ocasionar efectos secundarios peligrosos y no deseados. Written by Paulina Wittkowsky and Linda B. Bobroff, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, revised January 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy677

Reducing Your Risk for Diabetes: A Resource Guide

Figure 1. Women running up stadium steps for exercise. Image used in the 2014 Research Discoveries report. Credits: Javier Edwards, UF/IFAS

Many free resources are available to help people of all backgrounds lead healthier lives and reduce their risk for diabetes. This 3-page fact sheet is a major revision that provides resources to help people take steps to improve their health. Written by Linda B. Bobroff, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, revised February 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy933

Facts About Vitamin B12

Raw oysters on ice. Oyster, shellfish, seafood, food safety. 2009 Annual Research Report photo by Tyler Jones

Vitamin B12 works with folate, another B vitamin, to make DNA, our body's genetic material. B12 is needed for proper formation of red blood cells and protection of nerve cells. This 2-page fact sheet discusses vitamin B12 requirements, ways to get enough vitamin B12, and effects of vitamin B12 deficiency. Written by Linda B. Bobroff, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, revised January 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy214

Healthy Living: Changing Your Lifestyle to Improve Your Blood Pressure

Figure 1. Women running up stadium steps for exercise. Image used in the 2014 Research Discoveries report. Credits: Javier Edwards, UF/IFAS

Most people know that high blood pressure can often be improved by making smart dietary choices and choosing foods lower in sodium. But did you know there are other ways to help control high blood pressure and even prevent it? This 4-page fact sheet is a major revision that discusses four lifestyle changes that can help you keep blood pressure down. Written by Karla P. Shelnutt and Linda B. Bobroff, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, revised February 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1129