EDIS Update – Page 8 – New and revised publications from the University of Florida Insitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Planning for a Successful Commercial Subtropical/Tropical Fruit Grove

Planning is the key to successful grove establishment, maintenance, and production. Developing a detailed infrastructure description and plan, cultural program, and financial and marketing plan for a new or existing grove with a new fruit crop will save you time and money and help minimize mistakes. Prospective growers should compile and analyze information needed to select a grove site, establish the needed infrastructure, and develop maintenance plans for the plants and how the production will be marketed. This new 15-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department presents an outline of the type of information growers need when establishing a tropical fruit grove or contemplating management or modification of an existing grove. Written by Jonathan Crane, Yuncong Li, Edward Evans, Fredy Ballen, and Jeff Wasielewski.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1387

Métodos para el establecimiento de trasplantes de fresa en Florida

Florida es el segundo productor de fresa más grade de los Estados Unidos, con un valor estimado de $337 millones. La siembra inicia entre finales de septiembre y mediados de octubre, en momentos donde las altas temperaturas representan un reto significativo para la sobrevivencia de los trasplantes, y por tanto también para el rendimiento y la calidad. El propósito principal de esta publicación es proporcionar recomendaciones basadas en resultados de investigación sobre métodos de establecimientos de trasplantes para productores de fresas en la Florida.
This new 5-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department is the Spanish translation of HS1376, Methods for Strawberry Transplant Establishment in Florida. Written by Emmanuel Torres-Quezada, Lincoln Zotarelli, Vance M. Whitaker, and Shinsuke Agehara.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1378

Methods for Strawberry Transplant Establishment in Florida

Florida is the second largest strawberry producer in the United States, with an annual farm gate value of about $300 million. Planting occurs from late September through late October, and high air temperatures pose significant challenges for transplant establishment and thus yield and fruit quality. The primary purpose of this new 4-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department is to provide research-based recommendations on transplant establishment methods for strawberry growers in Florida. The techniques presented are overhead irrigation application methods and practices, strawberry plugs and bare-root transplants, crop protectants, and reflective mulching. Written by Emmanuel Torres-Quezada, Lincoln Zotarelli, Vance M. Whitaker, and Shinsuke Agehara.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1376

Tax Relief in Disaster Situations

This 1-page document provides general information regarding disaster assistance and links to online resources for taxpayers affected by a federally declared disaster. Written by Jorge Ruiz-Menjivar and Heidi Copeland, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, revised September 2020.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fm259

FRAGSTATS: A Free Tool for Quantifying and Evaluating Spatial Patterns

Aerial photograph of Cedar Key, Florida.

Human activities such as urbanization and agriculture have triggered rapid land cover change, resulting in the loss of natural ecosystems. Land managers managers seeking to plan effectively for future land use that preserves biodiversity and the valuable services provided by natural ecosystems must understand land cover change and its environmental impacts. Quantifying patterns of land cover change objectively in order to understand them can be difficult without the proper resources, however. This 9-page fact sheet written by Benxin Chen and Basil V. Iannone III and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation introduces one such resource, a free software called FRAGSTATS. Readers will learn to create input data, run the FRAGSTATS software, and interpret outputs. A few basic concepts of landscape ecology and GIS are included, but this fact sheet is intended for readers with at least some GIS knowledge.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr431

Movement of Plant Nutrients

This new two-page document discusses soil-applied and foliar fertilization for citrus trees as well as mobile and immobile nutrients and how they affect the choice of fertilization. Written by Tripti Vashisth and Chris Oswalt, and published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1373

Understanding Extension for School-Based Agricultural Education #3: FFA and 4-H—A Comparison

Even though many recognize FFA and 4-H, there is still a big disconnect in understanding the similarities and differences between them. This 4-page document serves as an educational tool for school-based agricultural education and 4-H programs, and provides a background of the history, characteristics, and membership process of these long-standing organizations. Written by Debra Barry, Alyssa Shepherd, Jennifer Patton, and Stephen Gran, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, September 2020.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc371

Florida’s Urban Forest: A Valuation of Benefits

This new 13-page article combines canopy coverage data from all of Florida’s metropolitan and micropolitan areas with ecological models developed by the USDA Forest Service to calculate several key benefits of urban trees and an approximation of their monetary value. Benefits of urban trees include carbon sequestration/storage, air pollution filtration, and stormwater mitigation. Written by Drew C. McLean, Andrew K. Koeser, Deborah R. Hilbert, Shawn Landry, Amr Abd-Elrahman, Katie Britt, Mary Lusk, Michael G. Andreu, and Robert J. Northrop, and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep595

The Electronic Logging Device Mandate and Costs for Refrigerated Citrus

Speedy truck transportation is required to get products like fresh produce from the farm to the grocery store before it spoils. The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration could significantly affect trucking costs for agricultural producers. This 6-page publication written by Tara Wade, Shellye Suttles, and Derek Farnsworth and published by the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Departmentuses truck shipment data to analyze transportation costs and identifies potential future effects of the ELD Mandate.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe1086

Using Social Media to Engage Communities with Research: SMART Social Media: Planning for Success

This new 6-page publication of the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication focuses on developing social media plans. The intended audience is individuals (e.g., scientists wishing to share their research), organizations, or people who work on grant-funded research projects. In this article, we provide evidence-based strategies for designing, developing, and implementing social media plans to share science research with others inside and outside of the professional scientific community. While the design, development, and implementation of social media may vary, we provide general strategies that are applicable across contexts. Written by Lisa Lundgren, Kathryn A. Stofer, Kirsten Hecht, and Tyus D. Williams.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc362

Using Social Media to Engage Communities with Research: Basics

This new 7-page publication of the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication defines social media, presents reasons for using it to share science, and identifies multiple platforms available for use now. We provide an introduction to and overview for a series on getting the most out of social media for sharing science or STEM, including agricultural research. Our primary goal is to assist people working through social media to broaden the community engaged with research. The series includes additional publications on social media planning, evaluating social media engagement, and social media for branding, among other topics. Written by Kathryn A. Stofer, Lisa Lundgren, Kirsten Hecht, and Tyus D. Williams.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc361

Understanding Extension for School-Based Agricultural Education #1: Extension 101

This article and series were designed primarily for use by secondary agriscience teachers in school-based agricultural education programs (SBAE) to help build a strong understanding of Extension and the role of Extension professionals. An important part of access and use of Extension services is understanding its background, structure, and function. This initial publication in the Understanding Extension for School-Based Agricultural Education series provides agricultural educators and the general public with a basic understanding of Extension. This new 4-page publication of the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication was written by Debra Barry, John Diaz, Alyssa Shepherd, Jennifer Patton, and Stephen Gran.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc372

Florida H2OSAV Insights: Home Water Use in the Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) Service Territory

This 6-page fact sheet discusses basics about water consumption for single-family, detached homes served by Gainesville Regional Utilities, information about the highest water users, and impacts of irrigation on water consumption. Written by Nick Taylor, Kaitlin Olander Robb Price, Bradley Spatz, Tricia Kyzar, and Pierce Jones, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, September 2020.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae544

Nutricion para la salud y el estado fisico: azucar y otros edulcorantes

$Florida produces more than half of all the cane sugar in the United States. Sugar cane is also Florida's most valuable agronomic crop. (UF\IFAS photo by Josh Wickham)$

Esta publicación proporciona información sobre azúcares y otros edulcorantes en la dieta estadounidense. La publicación describe fuentes ocultas de azúcares agregados en los alimentos para ayudar a aquellos que desean reducir la ingesta de azúcar, a encontrar los azúcares agregados en sus dietas. La sección sobre edulcorantes de alta intensidad analiza las características de cada edulcorante aprobado.
This is the Spanish translation of FSHN20-46/FS406, Nutrition for Health and Fitness: Sugar and Other Sweeteners. Written by Wendy Dahl and Linda Bobroff, translated by Daniela Rivero-Mendoza, and published by the UF/IFAS Food Science and Human Nutrition Department.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs407

The Mediterranean Lifestyle: The Power of Food

The Mediterranean diet dates back to the early 1960s, in which the population living among the Mediterranean basin, much of Greece and Southern Italy consumed high amounts of fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and unprocessed cereals with minimal consumption of meat. This dietary pattern has been shown to improve heart health, maintain weight, and reduce the risk for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. This new 6-page publication discusses the Mediterranean dietary pattern and provides tips to incorporate this lifestyle into daily life, as well as sample recipes. Written by Charissa Lim, Alexa Hosey, Farah Tadros, Madison Woodard, and Jeanette Andrade, and published by the UF/IFAS Food Science and Human Nutrition Department.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs399

Plant-Based Milks: Hemp

Hemp milk is a plant-based milk growing in popularity. Commercial hemp seed, used in the production of hemp milk, contains only trace amounts of the compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), much too low to produce any psychoactive effects from consuming the milk. This new 4-page publication describes the composition of hemp milk and the potential health benefits and risks. Written by Sarah Curl, Daniela Rivero-Mendoza, and Wendy J. Dahl, and published by the UF/IFAS Food Science and Human Nutrition Department.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs420

Cooperative Unit Systems: 1. Introduction and Raising Market Animals in a Group Setting

Traditionally, organizations such as 4-H have encouraged youth to participate in market animal projects as a way of increasing youth participation and introducing youth to production agriculture. As the demographics shift to a more urban clientele base for 4-H, there are new barriers of entry to market animal projects that were not seen in generations past. To address these barriers of entry, systems such as cooperative animal units have been set up. This 3-page document discusses components and limitations of cooperative animal units. Written by Alyssa Schortinghouse, and published by the UF/IFAS 4-H Youth Development Department, August 2020.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/4h408

How Much Space Does My Shade Tree Need? Planting Space Recommendations for Medium and Large Trees in Florida Cities

Trees provide urban landscapes with shade, beauty, and habitat. They can also help lessen the effects of flooding and urban heat buildup while storing carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. When planted in the wrong place, however, trees can damage urban infrastructure. To maximize the benefits provided by urban trees, we need better-informed tree selection and larger planting spaces with the capacity to support big-canopy trees. This new 8-page fact sheet is intended to help arborists, urban foresters, landscape designers, landscapers, and anyone else responsible for the planting of trees in developed areas make informed decisions regarding the planting width requirements of the trees they select. Written by Deborah R. Hilbert, Andrew K. Koeser, Brooke L. Moffis, JuWanda G. Rowell, and Drew C. McLean, and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep592

Watering Station Best Management Practices for Container Nurseries

Watering stations are specialized irrigation structures where plants are watered immediately after transplanting. Water not retained by the container substrate as well as water falling between containers becomes runoff. This runoff can contain sediment and nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, that can impact natural waters if not managed according to Best Management Practices (BMPs). The purpose of this new 3-page fact sheet is to provide examples of how runoff from watering stations at two nurseries was managed after implementation of the BMP. Written by Tom Yeager and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep590

Leading Difficult Conversations Series #1: Introduction

This publication series examines strategies and tactics for leaders to utilize when tasked with having a difficult conversation. Leadership can require leaders to have necessary conversations that are not always easy. Through providing leaders with specific tools to have difficult conversations, this series aims to promote dialogue and equip individuals to be more successful leaders. The series provides information regarding preparing for difficult conversations, creating a safe conversation environment, utilizing conversation tactics, and employing listening skills. This new 2-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication is part 1 of the series. Written by Christy Chiarelli.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc374