Author: dihagan

The Other Side of the Story: Greenhouse and Nursery Producers' Perceptions about Neonicotinoid Insecticides and Pollinator Friendly Labeling

The purpose of this report is to summarize ornamental plant producers' perceptions about neonicotinoid labeling and anticipated changes in production practices due to neonicotinoids labeling policy intervention. The target audience is industry, state agency, and public stakeholders involved in decisions and policy making related to the use of neonicotinoid insecticides in the U.S. ornamental plants industry.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe1094

The History of Offshore Aquaculture Governance in the Gulf of Mexico

Aquaculture is a growing industry in Florida, and there is particular interest in offshore marine aquaculture. While inland and coastal aquaculture (like for shellfish or ornamental fish) is managed by the Florida state agency Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), offshore aquaculture also involves federal management agencies. However, there has been some confusion and disagreement about which federal agencies will manage and make decisions about offshore aquaculture in the United States. This document describes a recent history and current state of that discussion. This information is important for potential aquaculturists and other stakeholders to understand, and should also provide guidance to management and outreach agencies seeking to inform stakeholders about offshore aquaculture.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa230

Artificial Reefs and People: How We Create Them and How They Affect Us

Artificial reefs are constructed to provide several important ecosystem services to coastal communities and fisheries around the world, and their deployment results in significant socio-ecological and economic effects. To understand these effects, this document gives an overview of the agencies and people involved in the use of artificial reefs, how the implementation of these reefs influences their perception, and what issues are associated with their deployment. This document also specifically describes the process by which most artificial reefs are implemented in Florida.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa231

Using Nucs in Beekeeping Operations

An apiary full of nucs for sale. Photo by Jamie Ellis.
This 9-page illustrated fact sheet by James D. Ellis discusses the merits of using nucleus colonies, or nucs, which are smaller versions of full-sized Langstroth hives. The publication explains how to create and manage nucs and how to use them to control swarming, strengthen production colonies, re-queen hives, hive swarms, produce queens to sell to other beekeepers, and in general strengthen and expand a beekeeping operation. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in869

Nematode Management in Potatoes (Irish or White)

Plant-parasitic nematodes are a major pest on potatoes in Florida. Root-knot, sting, and stubby-root nematodes are the primary problems. Sampling is an important component of confirming nematode problems in a field. Nematode management relies heavily on chemical control (nematicides), but crop rotation and soil culture are important considerations as well. This 12-page fact sheet about nematode management in potatoes was written by Zane J. Grabau and J.W. Noling and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ng029

Dune Restoration Plants fact sheets

Cat’s-Claw Vine, Dolichandra unguis-cati : A Showy but Invasive Plant in Florida


Cat’s-claw vine is a neotropical, climbing perennial that produces large and showy yellow flowers in the springtime. Unfortunately, the aggressive nature of the vine has made it a major weed in China, Australia, South Africa, and parts of the southeastern United States. This 6-page fact sheet written by Niels Proctor and Jason Smith and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation provides guidance on identification and control of this invasive vine and suggests some similar native vines to use instead.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr391

New and Revised Featured Creatures, September and October 2017

Founded in 1996, Featured Creatures provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms. Their website is a cooperative venture of the University of Florida’s Entomology and Nematology Department and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of Plant Industry. EDIS hosts copies of these profiles in fact sheet format. In September and October, the following have been added:

Carbon Stocks on Forest Stewardship Program and Adjacent Lands

Pine trees in a forest

Nonindustrial private forestlands in Florida provide many environmental benefits, or ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are benefits from nature that are directly enjoyed, consumed, or used by humans, such as water quality improvement or protection, recreation, biodiversity, and even timber. Another benefit from forests that is gaining interest is their ability to store carbon through the photosynthetic capture of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, in tree, plant, and soil biomass. The carbon dioxide that is stored over the life of a forest, called carbon stocks, is not only important for mitigating greenhouse gas contributions to climate change, but it can also be valued in several markets and incorporated into environmental policy instruments. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Nilesh Timilsina, Francisco J. Escobedo, Alison E. Adams, and Damian C. Adams and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation April 2017.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr384

New Featured Creatures: January and February 2017

New Featured Creatures for October 2016

New World Screwworm topic page

Odocoileus virginianus clavium
New World Screwworm is the subject of a USDA alert October 3, 2016. A new EDIS topic page directs searchers to authoritative information sources or the IFAS home page (www.IFAS.ufl.edu) for additional information as it becomes available.

External Links

We Need Your Advice!

Florida Extension is a partnership between the University of Florida and Florida A & M University to improve the quality of life for people like you through education. In the coming decade, decisions will be made by Florida Extension that influence you and your community. We invite you to participate in our Community Input Survey as a way to give your opinions about certain issues that may impact these decisions. The focus of this survey is your own community — where you live, shop, work and play.

The survey runs September 1 through December 31, 2016. The results of the survey will be available in spring 2017.

Please share this survey link with your family, friends, and coworkers. We look forward to hearing from all of you.

Take the survey: https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4MAOfUFiafbNYrz