Want to plan a livestock show for youth that will serve as the educational summit of the livestock project experience? Make sure the entire event is as stress-free as possible for the livestock, youth exhibitors, their families, and show management and as educational as possible for youth exhibitors, their families, and all public spectators. Consider the recommendations in this 4-page fact sheet written by Chad Carr, Justin Crosswhite, Jennifer Shike, and Heather Shultz, and published by the UF Department of Animal Science, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an268
Category: Agriculture
Identification, Impacts, and Control of Ragweed Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) (ENH1187/EP448)
One of the worlds most invasive weeds, this member of the Asteraceae family is a problem in Africa, Australia, India, and is increasingly a problem in Florida. Learn more in this 10-page fact sheet was written by Robert H. Stamps, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep448
The Florida Bull Test 2010-2011 (AN273)
The North Florida Research and Education Center in Marianna, Florida annually hosts the Florida Bull Test. By controlling environmental factors and taking Expected Progeny Differences (EPD’s) into account, the data emphasizes the dual importance of genetics and environment in all cattle types. Beef cattle producers can use this information to select superior cattle for the best possible herd. This 5-page fact sheet provides the results of the 2010-11 Florida bull test. Written by G. Cliff Lamb and Nicolas DiLorenzo, and published by the UF Department of Animal Science, November 2011. (UF/IFAS photo by Thomas Wright)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an273
Bracken Fern Control in Pastures (SSAGR357/AG366)
Bracken fern is a poisonous plant common along tree lines, in forest openings, and around building borders. Animals will consum it when adequate forage is not available. Learn more in this 2-page fact sheet was written by J. Ferrell, B. Sellers, and T. Wilson , and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag366
An Asian Citrus Psyllid Parasitoid: Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis (Shafee, Alam and Agarwal) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) (EENY505/IN907)
This 5-page fact sheet describes this imported biological control agent to combat the Asian citrus psyllid, a serious pest of citrus. Written by Eric Rohrig, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, November 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in907
Sugarcane Ripeners in Florida (SSAGR215/SC015)
Ripeners can be incorporated as an important component of sugarcane production management strategy. This 2-page fact sheet was written by D. C. Odero, C. R. Rainbolt, R. A. Gilbert, and J. A. Dusky, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, October 2011. Photo by ruumo/CC BY-SA 2.0
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sc015
Alternatives to Petroleum-Based Containers for the Nursery Industry (ENH1193/EP454)
Biodegradable containers are an increasingly attractive option for consumers and growers alike. This 5-page fact sheet looks at the past, present, and future of containers used in container nursery production. Written by Gary W. Knox and Matthew Chappell, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, November 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep454
Jatropha: An Alternative Substitute to Fossil Fuel (HS1193)
Jatropha is a tropical plant and can be grown in low to high rainfall and diverse soil types, but the plant is susceptible to freezes. The plant produces seeds containing inedible oil that can be converted to biodiesel. The cake by-product from oil extraction can be used for fish and animal feed, biogas, or as an organic fertilizer. This 10-page fact sheet describes the plant morphology, species adaptability, cultural practices, and crop uses. Written by Kamrun Nahar and Monica Ozores-Hampton, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, December 2011. (UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1193
Production of Giant Reed for Biofuel (SSAGR318/AG327)
Giant reed is currently being evaluated as a potential biomass energy crop in Florida, even though some scientists and those in other states consider it to be a noxious or invasive weed. This 4-page fact sheet discusses the adaptation and production of giant reed as a potential energy crop and presents measures for controlling giant reed as an escaped weed. It does not give specific recommendations on whether it is better to control giant reed or produce it for biofuel. Written by Dennis Odero, Robert Gilbert, Jason Ferrell, and Zane Helsel, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, November 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag327
An Overview of Nutrient Budgets for Use in Nutrient Management Planning (SL361/SS562)
For professionals responsible for ensuring water quality, this 4-page fact sheet describes the types and limitations of nutrient budgets. Written by Amy L. Shober, George Hochmuth, and Christine Wiese, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, November 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss562
“Earlyploid”: Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass (SSAGR355/AG364)
Earlyploid, developed at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center, is a large-seeded, upright, early forage-producing and early maturing annual ryegrass. Regional variety trials show it is the earliest tetraploid ryegrass cultivar available commercially. It offers excellent disease resistance and sufficient cold tolerance to be grown successfully in the southern annual ryegrass region of the U.S. This 1-page fact sheet was written by A.R. Blount, G.M. Prine, C.L. Mackowiak, K.E. Kenworthy, J.C. Jones, and P.E. Reith, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag364
Dieffenbachia Diseases: Identification and Control in Commercial Greenhouse Operations (PP286)
Dieffenbachia is among the top 10 most popular plants produced by commercial foliage growers in Florida. This 4-page fact sheet provides guidelines to identify and treat diseases that may be encountered during the commercial production of Dieffenbachia. Written by David Norman and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp286
“Ocala”: A New Diploid Annual Ryegrass for the Southern U.S. (SSAGR356/AG365)
Ocala, a new UF annual ryegrass, has excellent disease resistance and sufficient cold tolerance to be grown successfully in the southern annual ryegrass region of the U.S. It is a well-adapted, diploid annual ryegrass population. Parentage includes several advanced experimental annual ryegrass populations for Florida and Nebraska. This 1-page fact sheet was written by A.R. Blount, G.M. Prine, K.E. Kenworthy, P. Mislevy, J.C. Jones, and P.E. Reith, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag365
Fertilizer Experimentation, Data Analyses, and Interpretation for Developing Fertilization Recommendations: Examples with Vegetable Crop Research (SL345/SS548)
Fertilizer recommendations contain several important factors, including fertilizer form, source, application timing, placement, and irrigation management. Another important part of a fertilizer recommendation is the amount of a particular nutrient to apply. The optimum fertilizer amount is determined from extensive field experimentation conducted for several years, at multiple locations, with several varieties, etc. This 10-page fact sheet focuses on the research principles behind determining the optimum rate of fertilizer, including experimentation and interpreting research results for optimum crop production and quality in conjunction with minimal environmental consequences. Authors George Hochmuth, Ed Hanlon, and Allen Overman use examples from research with vegetable crops in Florida and emphasize that how one interprets the results is as important as how one conducts the research. Published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss548
Using Gibberellic Acid and Ethephon to Induce Flowers on Tropical Foliage Plants (ENH1186/EP447)
Even though they are prized for their beautiful leaves, flowers are induced in tropical foliage plants for breeding and for marketing purposes. This 6-page fact sheet discusses several factors to consider when developing protocols for inducing blooms in tropical foliage crops. Written by R. J. Henny and J. Chen, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep447
‘Jon Jon’ Magnolia: A Late-Flowering Deciduous Magnolia for Northern Florida (ENH1192 /EP453)
This large-flowered, hybrid, deciduous magnolia flowers profusely in late spring, about two weeks after most saucer magnolias, but before foliage emerges. This allows ‘Jon Jon’ to miss spring freezes that often damage saucer and other spring-flowering magnolias. This 2-page fact sheet was written by Gary W. Knox and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep453
Strategies for Cost-Effective Supplementation of Beef Cattle (SSANS14/AN085)
Forage should provide the majority of the nutrition for the beef herd. Seasonal forage growth and changes in forage quality challenge most cattle managers to provide adequate nutrition at reasonable costs. This 6-page fact sheet gives several alternatives to consider in your cow-calf production system. Written by Matt Hersom and W.E. Kunkle, and published by the UF Department of Animal Science, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an085
Emerald Ash Borer: A Potential Future Threat to Ash Trees in Florida (FOR284/FR346)
Do not move firewood into or around the state! This invasive exotic beetle kills ash trees and is likely to reach Florida in the years to come — or faster if it gets transported by humans. Learn more in this 5-page fact sheet was written by Don Spence and Jason Smith, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, August 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr346
Nursery Crop Selection and Market Niches (ENH1194/EP455)
The ultimate success of an ornamental production operation hinges on the ability of that operation to successfully understand which genera, species, and/or cultivars to grow on a year-to-year basis. This 5-page fact sheet describes several important factors that must be considered in order to properly assess which ornamental crops should be grown and which market niches exist that may dictate crop selection. Written by Gary Knox and Matthew Chappell and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, October 2011. UF/IFAS Photo by Josh Wickham.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep455
Leafminer Parasitoid Opius dissitus Muesebeck (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Braconidae) (EENY501/IN902)
Leafminers are usually the larvae of insects that feed or mine inside plant leaves, and Opius dissitus is a wasp endoparasite that keeps the population of Liriomyza leafminers in check. This 2-page fact sheet was written by Jian Li, Dakshina Seal, and Gary Leibee, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in902