EDIS Top Thirty in 2013

  1. Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide
  2. Common Poultry Diseases
  3. Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges, and the Required Managerial Tools
  4. Triangulation: Establishing the Validity of Qualitative Studies
  5. Dealing with Snakes in Florida’s Residential Areas – Identifying Commonly Encountered Snakes
  6. Determining Sample Size
  7. Transformational Leadership: The Transformation of Managers and Associates
  8. “Black Snakes”: Identification and Ecology
  9. St. Augustinegrass for Florida Lawns
  10. Conducting an In-depth Interview
  11. Sulfites: Separating Fact from Fiction
  12. Factors Affecting Egg Production in Backyard Chicken Flocks
  13. Understanding Exchange Rates: A Weakening U.S. Dollar–Good, Bad, or Indifferent for Florida Farmers and Agribusinesses?
  14. Common Florida Spiders
  15. Basic Elements of Equipment Cleaning and Sanitizing in Food Processing and Handling Operations
  16. Avocado Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
  17. Bahiagrass for Florida Lawns
  18. Zoysiagrass for Florida Lawns
  19. Mango Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
  20. Bird-of-Paradise
  21. Understanding Motivation: An Effective Tool for Managers
  22. Citrus Problems In The Home Landscape
  23. Preventing Foodborne Illness: Clostridium botulinum
  24. Cockroaches and Their Management
  25. Basic Principles of Landscape Design
  26. Mites That Attack Humans
  27. Invisible Itches: Insect and Non-Insect Causes
  28. Blueberry Gardener’s Guide
  29. Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ Bloodgood Japanese Maple
  30. Drip-irrigation systems for small conventional vegetable farms and organic vegetable farms

Economic Value of Upland Invasive Plant Management in Florida State Parks (FOR290/FR352)

invasive plantsInvasive plants are a serious problem for Florida’s natural areas, but what is the impact of their management on the economic value of our state parks? This 6-page fact sheet reports the results of a survey of Florida residents to determine how much they would pay for lower levels of invasive plant coverage in parks they visit, and estimate the value of invasive plant control. Written by Damian C. Adams, Anafrida N. Bwenge, Donna J. Lee, Sherry L. Larkin, and Janaki R. R. Alavalapati, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr352

Handbook of Florida Water Regulation

man and dog enjoying the sunset by the waterLost in the maze of statutes, regulations, and potential liabilities that identify the current mass of water protection law? This handbook consisting of 2-4 page fact sheets provides an accurate, current, and authoritative summary of the principal federal and state (Florida) laws that directly or indirectly relate to agriculture. It provides a basic overview of the many rights and responsibilities that farmers and farmland owners have under both federal and state laws as well as the appropriate contact information to obtain more detailed information. Written by Michael T. Olexa and Zachary Broome, with contributions by Tatiana Borisova, and published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, June 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_series_handbook_of_florida_water_regulation

Economic Feasibility of Biofuel Crops in Florida: Energycane on Mineral Soils (SC089)

experimental varieties of sugarcaneEnergycane is a cross of commercial sugarcane with wild sugarcane. It is higher in fiber and lower in sucrose than commercial sugarcane. This 7-page fact sheet provides estimates of costs and returns to sugarcane farmers and determines whether energycane can provide sufficient economic returns to warrant further research into its use as an energy crop. Written by José Álvarez and Zane R. Helsel and published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, August 2011. USDA/ARS photo by David Nance.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sc089

Terrestrial Snails Affecting Plants in Florida (EENY497/IN893)

Cuban brown snailMost snails are either beneficial or harmless, but a few snails may feed on economically important plants and become pests. The terrestrial species that can become plant pests are discussed in this 12-page fact sheet written by John L. Capinera and Jodi White, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, July 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in893

Working With the News Media (WC112)

video interviewLearn to think like a reporter about what stories are newsworthy and how you can help them do their job better, and get your message out to the public. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Ricky Telg, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, August 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc112

Popular Publications this Week:

Mating pair of lovebugs

Lovebugs in Florida (ENY-329/MG068)
Living with Lovebugs (ENY-840/IN694)
Enfermedades de las Aves Transmisibles a los Humanos (PS 23S/AN099)
Los Nombres Científicos (ENY-731S/IN665)
Ticks (ENY-206/IG088)
Physical Changes of Aging (FCS2085/HE019)
Guide to Using Rhizomal Perennial Peanut in the Urban Landscape (HS960/EP135)
Earthworm Biology (CIR455/IN047)
Active Listening: A Communication Tool (FCS2151/HE361)
Burmese Pythons in South Florida: Scientific Support for Invasive Species Management (WEC242/UW286)

EENY033/IN160 Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Insecta: Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

Revised! EENY033, an 8-page illustrated fact sheet by F.W. Mead, is part of the Featured Creatures collection. It describes this serious pest of citrus which is a vector for citrus greening disease or Huanglongbing — identification, distribution, description, life history, damage, and management. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, July 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in160

FOR262/FR324 Nyssa aquatica, Water Tupelo

FOR262, a 2-page fact sheet by Michael G. Andreu, Melissa H. Friedman, Mary McKenzie, and Heather V. Quintana, describes this native deciduous tree found in the bottomlands, floodplains, and swamps of southern Virginia, south to northwest Florida, west to southeastern Texas, and north through the Mississippi River Valley — scientific and common names, description, allergen, and applications. Includes references. Published by the UF School of Forest Resources and Conservation, June 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr324

CIR1414/PI054 Florida Crop/Pest Management Profile: Mamey Sapote and Sapodilla

Revised! Circular 1414, a 7-page fact sheet by Mark A. Mossler and Jonathan Crane, provides an overview of production and pest management practices for mamey sapote and sapodilla in Florida. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, November 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PI054

FCS2298/FY1089 Making Good Decisions: Parenting Strategies to Guide Young Children’s Media Use

FCS-2298, a 4-page illustrated fact sheet by Stephanie C. Toelle and David C. Diehl, gives parents viewing strategies, suggests media guidelines, and reviews media policies designed to protect children. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, May 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FY1089

FAR0074/FM327 Co-parenting and Father Involvement

FAR0074, a 2-page transcript of the Family Album Radio Program broadcast by Suzanna Smith, describes research findings about the co-parenting relationships between custodial mothers and fathers living apart from their biological children. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, March 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FM327

DS-80/DS110 Labor Management

Revised! DS-80, a 7-page fact sheet by D. R. Bray, D. W. Webb, and J.E. Umphrey, discusses the importance of dairy producers having a program to manage the people who do work on the farm. It discusses wage incentive plans, employee retention, and good herdsmanship/cowmanship. Published by the UF Department of Animal Sciences, October 2008.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/DS110

WEC252/UW297 Florida’s Introduced Birds: An Overview

WEC-252, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by Steve A. Johnson and Monica McGarrity, is the first of a series of documents about Florida's non-native birds and their impacts on our state’s native ecosystems and human residents. It discusses when an introduced species is considered invasive, how invasive birds impact us, and what you can do. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, March 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW297

SS AGR 272/AG277 Benefits of Cover Crops for Soil Health

SS-AGR-272, a 4-page fact sheet by Y.C. Newman, D.W. Wright, C. Mackowiak, J.M.S. Scholberg and C.M. Cherr, discusses the benefits of cover crops in agricultural production, the benefits of soil organic matter; how to match cover crop nutrient release with future crop demand; timing and depth of residue incorporation; and erosion, pest and weed control. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Agronomy, November 2007.

FOR119/FR174 Chapter 8: Selecting Coastal Plain Species for Wind Resistance

FOR-119, a 13-page full color fact sheet by Mary L. Duryea and Eliana Kampf, is part of the Urban Forest Hurricane Recovery Program series. It presents the research and methodology that lead to lists of relative wind resistance for coastal plain tree species. Includes recommendations for selecting and establishing trees for a healthier and more wind-resistant urban forest. Published by the UF School of Forest Resources and Conservation, September 2007.