| In this Issue: |
Sharon Durham, ARS Office of Communications
Nitrogen is the main nutrient added to cereal crops like corn, which makes them grow faster and stronger. But too much of a good thing could sometimes have negative outcomes. Too much nitrogen can run off with rainwater or leach through to soil and contaminate groundwater. Now, a simple, …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2018/08/03/usda-researching-new-test-to-determine-nitrogen-levels-in-soil/
Farmers and ranchers have implemented Best Management Practices (BMPs) that maintain or improve water quality, quantity and soil conditions on their lands for many years. Although BMPs are designed to be technically feasible and economically viable, implementing BMPs can be expensive for producers, and some practices may not be financially viable for all. Multiple …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2018/07/13/financial-assistance-for-farmers-who-implement-bmps/
This week’s featured video was produced by Florida Dairy Farmers. The Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents (FACAA) toured Shenandoah Dairy, as part of their Mid-Year Meeting this week. I was fortunate enough to see this amazing farming operation in person. Through the following video, Ed Henderson, Shenandoah Dairy, Live Oak, FL provides a …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2018/04/06/friday-feature-shenandoah-dairy-video-farm-tour/
This week’s featured video is a documentary produced by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This 20 minute documentary highlights the history of the NRCS and the father of soil conservation, Hugh Hammond Bennett, and the effort he put into developing the private lands conservation movement that is so prevalent in the …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2018/02/23/featured-video-documentary-of-the-history-of-soil-conservation-in-the-u-s/
Bryan Unruh, UF/IFAS Turf Specialist
Sod production in Florida contributes approximately $300 million to the state’s economy annually. As the economy continues to rebound and new houses are built to accommodate Florida’s population growth, sod will also see an increase in demand, which bodes well for Florida’s sod producers.
Best management …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2018/01/26/florida-sod-production-bmp-manual-is-being-revised/
This week’s featured video was produced by Alabama Extension to share the results of a successful project installing a variable rate center pivot irrigation system on a farm. They used a combination of advanced soil mapping and soil moisture sensors to develop the map needed to program the equipment and to guide irrigation scheduling. …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2018/01/26/featured-video-variable-rate-pivot-irrigation/
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Energy is currently offering free energy evaluations, along with cost-share funds to increase on-farm energy efficiency for agricultural producers in Florida. This includes all types of operations, such as row crop, fruit and vegetable farms, nurseries, livestock and poultry operations, dairies, and aquaculture farms.
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Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2018/01/12/maximize-your-farms-energy-efficiency-with-free-evaluations-and-fdacs-cost-share-program/
The challenges of waste disposal is an area of growing concern in the US, particularly among farmers. The University of Florida is conducting survey research to explore how Florida farmers handle their waste and garbage. The statewide survey will track chemical packaging and organic waste management across a number of different kinds of agricultural practices. …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2017/12/15/input-requested-for-a-uf-study-on-farm-waste-management/
This week’s featured video was produced by the Florida Department of Agriculture (FDACS) to showcase the 2017 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award winners. Cindale Dairy, near Marianna, FL was one of three Florida farms recognized by FDACS in November 2017. In addition to the video, you can also read about the dairy in the article that …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2017/12/15/friday-feature-cindale-farms-2017-agricultural-environmental-leadership-award-video/
Jose Dubeux and Liza Garcia, University of Florida – North Florida Research and Education Center
Improved forages are not only good for livestock, but they can also help feed bees! Managing grasslands to enhance bee habitat requires similar management practices to those needed to enhance pasture for grazing livestock. Diversification of pasture species, management …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2017/10/06/managing-grazing-land-to-enhance-bee-habitat/
