Author: dihagan

Overwintering Honey Bee Colonies in Northern Climates

Figure 1. Hives getting supplemental sugar syrup through top feeders. Other feeders also can be used to deliver sugar or high fructose corn syrup to colonies. One of the many challenges beekeepers face is minimizing honey bee colony losses during winter. This can be especially challenging to beekeepers in extreme northerly climates. Special preparations must be made during the fall to ensure that colonies survive the winter months with minimal loss. This 3-page fact sheet was written by James D. Ellis and Katherine Hammons, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, September 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1006

Seguridad Alimentaria: Juegatela seguro con los huevos

Figure 1. Compre huevos antes de la fecha en el envase. Guarde en la caja de cartón en la parte más fría del refrigerador por no más de 5 semanas. Credit: Digital VisionLos huevos frescos pueden contener bacterias que podrían causar una enfermedad llamada salmonelosis. Esta enfermedad causada por alimentos provoca vómito y diarrea. Esta puede ser severa y hasta podría ser fatal para los adultos mayores. Reduzca el riesgo de contraer estas enfermedades causadas por sequir estas pautas. This 2-page fact sheet was written by Linda B. Bobroff y Jennifer Hillan, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, October 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy194

Rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Chen, 1935) (Nematoda: Strongylida: Metastrongylida)

Figure 1. Rats are the normal host of Angiostrogylus cantonensis nematodes. They acquire the parasite by feeding on infected molluscs. Credit: Jennifer L. Gillett-KaufmanLike many pest and disease problems, rat lungworm has been slowly spreading around the world. First described by Chen from rats in China, the medical significance of this parasite was overlooked until 1944 when it was found infecting humans in Taiwan. Even then, because the report was published in Japanese, its importance remained largely unknown. In 1955, Mackerras and Sandars found this nematode among rats in Brisbane, Australia, and described its life cycle, including the importance of its molluscan intermediate hosts. This 4-page fact sheet was written by John Capinera and Heather S. Walden, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, September 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1007

Nitrogen Cycling and Management for Romaine and Crisphead Lettuce Grown on Organic Soils

Figure 1. Examples of healthy lettuce (left) and N-deficient lettuce (right). Credit: L. SantosLettuce has rapid growth and reaches harvest in 60–70 days in South Florida. This leads to high demands for nitrogen fertilization during the short growing season. A good N fertilization scheme should reduce costs, conserve natural resources, and minimize negative environmental impacts. The keys to using fertilizer efficiently are understanding the crop nutrient requirements to predict fertilizer needs and management as well as knowing the appropriate amounts to apply. Lettuce growers also need to know the nutritional status of the crop through soil and plant tissue testing. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Luis Santos, Alan L. Wright, Yigang Luo, Huangjun Lu, and D. Calvin Odero, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, September 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss588

Persuasion as a Communication Tool

concept of educationThink about a time when you wanted your parents to do something for you, such as buy you a special birthday gift, let you stay up late, or go out with your friends. Your attempts at persuasion probably focused on communicating specific reasons why your parents should take the action you wanted. Persuasion is a communication tool that can be adjusted to convince a single person, or to move an entire audience to a desired action. In this publication you will learn several techniques for persuasive communication. This 2-page fact sheet was written by Laura Gorham, Ricky Telg, and Tracy Irani, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, July 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc144

Persuasion in Messages

African man yelling into megaphoneSpecific contextual cues are added to media messages that persuade people to think one way or another about an issue and influence their actions. In this publication, you will learn the different ways that the mass media use persuasion and how persuasion encourages the audience to change their attitudes or behavior. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Laura Gorham, Ricky Telg, and Tracy Irani, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, July 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc145

Persuasive Papers, Speeches, and Campaigns

Young preacherPersuasion can be used in written essays, speeches or as part of media campaigns that attempt to influence an audience to change their thinking or behavior. This publication will familiarize you with the tools necessary to develop a persuasive essay, speech, or media campaign. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Laura Gorham, Ricky Telg, and Tracy Irani, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, July 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc146

Planning Special Events

Teamwork background conceptLearning how to plan special events is an important skill that can benefit you and your organization. This publication is designed to help you understand what special events are and how to conduct them. After reading this publication, you will be able to explain how event sites are chosen, what criteria are used to plan events, and how to handle site permits, contracts, and budgets. You also will learn the five critical stages in planning a special event and how to evaluate an event. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Reba Ellen Hicks, Ricky Telg, and Tracy Irani, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, July 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc147

Event Marketing and Public Relations

Mother and Face Painted DaughterMarketing your event so that people know about it and are motivated to attend is extremely important. The five P’s of marketing – product, promotion, price, place (location), and public relations – must be taken into consideration in order to have an event that is well attended. This 2-page fact sheet was written by Reba Ellen Hicks, Ricky Telg, and Tracy Irani, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, July 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc148

Ornamental Ficus Diseases: Identification and Control in Commercial Greenhouse Operations

Figure 7. Botrytis blight on Ficus elastica. Note the fluffy spores. Credit: D. J. NormanWhile edible figs are grown agronomically for delicious fruit, many Ficus species have been commercialized for decorative, ornamental purposes. These horticultural Ficus varieties are used for interiorscape houseplant décor and for outdoor landscape design. This article provides guidelines for the identification and treatment of diseases that may be encountered during the commercial production of ornamental Ficus. This 7-page fact sheet was written by D. J. Norman and Shad Ali, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, August 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp308

Eriophyid mite vector of Rose Rosette Disease (RRD) Phyllocoptes fructiphilus Keifer (Arachnida: Acari: Eriophyidae)

Figure 1. Phyllocoptes fructiphilus Keifer is a tiny eriophyid mite and cannot be seen without magnification. Like all eriophyid mites, it has only two pairs of legs at the anterior of its worm-like body. Phyllocoptes fructiphilus Keifer, a tiny eriophyid mite, is the vector of a devastating viral disease of roses called Rose Rosette Disease (RRD). This mite can be spread by the wind and by contaminated clothing and equipment. It also is possible that it can disperse through phoresy (attaching itself to insects). As a result, the distribution of the mite and RRD is expanding. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Marjorie Hoy, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, May 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in999

Southern black widow Latrodectus mactans (Fabricius) (Arachnida: Araneae: Theridiidae)

Figure 1. Adult female Southern black widow, Latrodectus mactans (Fabricius).The Southern black widow spider, Latrodectus mactans (Fabricius), is a venomous spider found throughout the southeastern United States. Widow spiders received their name from the belief that they would kill and consume their mate following copulation. However, the practice was mainly observed in laboratory settings under crowded conditions. It is believed that sexual cannibalism within the widow species in natural settings is more associated with the male’s physical inability to escape rather than the female’s interest in consuming him. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Amanda Eiden and Phil E. Kaufman, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, May 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1000

Healthy Living: High Blood Pressure

Figure 1. Have your blood pressure checked by your doctor or other health care provider at least once a year. High blood pressure is increased pressure of blood inside the blood vessels. Too much pressure causes more work for the heart. Another name for high blood pressure is hypertension. About one in three American adults has hypertension and about half of them do not know they have this health problem. This 2-page fact sheet was written by Linda B. Bobroff and Leigh Ann Martin, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, September 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy684

Women and Money: Unique Issues – Selecting Your Financial Professional Team

Figure 1. Before you retain the services of a financial professional, you should understand the differences between financial planners, accountants, attorneys, and investment specialists. Always make sure you choose a financial professional you trust.On your road to building wealth, you may choose to engage financial professionals for guidance. Seeking out professional advice will include fees and expenses, so use care when selecting the appropriate services. There is a variety of financial professionals to choose from, including financial planners, investment specialists, accountants, attorneys, insurance agents, and bankers. Understanding the roles, expertise, and credentials of these individuals can help you select the most appropriate individual or team for your specific financial needs.
This 4-page fact sheet was written by Brenda C. Williams, Diann Douglas, Martie Gillen, and Lynda Spence, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, July 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1370

Establishing Lot Size through Sanitation Clean Breaks in Produce Packing Facilities

Food processing factoryA clean break is needed between groups of products for food protection regulators to consider produce as separate from other produce packed off the same line. Determining a clean break is important to limit the scope of a recall. Packers can determine lot size based on what is practical and the amount of risk that their business is comfortable with. Food protection regulators define lot size as when a clean break occurs before and after a group of products. For instance, if a packer chooses to have a daily documented and verified clean break, the packer would establish one lot per day, as defined by food protection regulators. In other situations, a packer may choose to have a clean break conducted weekly, meaning that a food safety incident could result in a week’s worth of production being recalled. This 2-page fact sheet was written by B. Chapman and M.D. Danyluk, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, August 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs234

The Savvy Survey #5: The Process for Developing Survey Questions

Anxious businessman looking at a drawn processA useful process for developing a high-quality questionnaire follows four steps. Brainstorm questions on a topic. Review the literature for concepts, questions, and indices. Collect ideas for questions and wording choices through focus groups or key informant interviews. And select questions linked to a program’s logic model. Each of these steps is discussed in this 3-page fact sheet written by Glenn D. Israel and Jessica L. Gouldthorpe, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, August 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pd065

Mindfulness: An Introduction

Prayer PositionLearning to be mindful is a powerful skill that can help you face the stresses of day-to-day life and improve both your psychological and physical health. Because you don’t need any equipment to practice mindfulness, you can practice it discreetly anywhere, at any time. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Parth Naik, Victor Harris, and Larry Forthun, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, September 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1381

Women and Money: Unique Issues: Your Money Matters

Figure 1. Talking about money may not seem like a romantic gesture, but make sure you talk with your significant other about your finances before you marry.Couples considering a future together should discuss money before they marry. Discussing money may not be the most romantic gesture, but this is an important conversation to have early in a relationship and to continue to have throughout your marriage.This 4-page fact sheet was written by Diann Douglas and Martie Gillen, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, September 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy046

Women and Money: Unique Issues – So You Want to Remarry? (FCS7249/FY1353)

Figure 1. If you plan on remarrying, you should examine your and your future spouse’s finances to make sure there are no surprises going into the marriage.Whether widowed or divorced, if a second marriage is in your future, it may be advisable to look before you leap. Second marriages have a higher failure rate than first marriages. They are often more complex and have stresses not found in many first marriages. Take your time to consider all of the financial circumstances between you and your future spouse before you remarry. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Diann Douglas, Martie Gillen, and Lynda Spence, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, March 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1353

Phoenix canariensis: Canary Island Date Palm

Figure 1. Healthy Canary Island date palms. Credit: T. K. BroschatThe Canary Island date palm is native to the Canary Islands. Although it can reach heights of 40–50 feet, it is slow growing and requires many years to attain that height. It has 8- to 15-foot-long rigid leaves that contain up to 200 V-shaped leaflets, the basal ones of which are modified into long, sharp spines. Leaves are not self-cleaning and must be manually removed when dead, but the leaf bases eventually rot off, leaving an attractive diamond-shaped pattern of leaf scars on the 2- to 3-foot-diameter trunk. On older specimens, the basal foot or so of the trunk typically is covered with short root initials. This 6-page fact sheet was written by T. K. Broschat, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, August 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st439