Lions in the Gulf… Tigers in the Bay
This catchy phrase coined by Robert Turpin (Escambia County Marine Resources Division) describes the new invader to our marine waters. Many coastal residents are aware of the invasive lionfish that has invaded our local reefs but few have probably heard of the Asian...
Dr. Jack Payne’s Personal Comment: A land-grant president for UF
By Jack Payne The selection of Dr. W. Kent Fuchs (pronounced “Fox”) as the next president of the University of Florida should be cause for celebration for anyone who cares about Florida agriculture and natural resources. I’ll confess, I had some initial apprehension...
Enjoy delicious stone crab claws now through May, 2015.
The commercial and recreation stone crab season has opened! Now is the time to enjoy local stone crab claws. Whether you catch them yourself or buy from a local seafood market, the delicious meat is worth the effort and cost. There are 2 species of stone crab found...
Florida’s Wildlife Conservations Policy for Predicted Coastal Habitat Loss Problems
Have you wondered how Florida’s wildlife conservation policy planners and habitat managers are responding to the new management challenge of predicted coastal habitat loss from sea level rise? And how that overlays on predicted habitat loss from a 50-year doubling of...
Bamboo: Attractive Ornamental or Invasive Nightmare?
Bamboo, the tallest grass in north Florida, can be an attractive landscape specimen or an invasive nightmare. There are more than 700 species of bamboo worldwide, ranging in height from 12 inches to 100 feet or more in ideal growing conditions. In the U.S., only two...
Sunbelt Ag Expo – 10/13/14 – Setup Day LIVE Feed
Local county agents are working hard to set up at the Sunbelt Ag Expo. You can watch our live feed below! http://youtu.be/FKlPYekDQfs
The Majestic Longleaf: One of the South’s Distinguished Trees
Steeped in history, the majestic longleaf (Pinus palustris) is an economically and ecologically important tree species of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains. Its species name “palustris” means “of the marsh,” and although it is commonly associated with sandy, well...
Fall Season Can Mean More Snake Encounters
In the last few weeks we have received an increase in calls about snake encounters. Most of these have dealt with small juvenile snakes folks are finding on their property, or in their homes, but we are also hearing about large ones. Most of the 56 species of snakes...
Gulf Coast Agritourism and Ecotourism Business Development Conference Announced for November
The UF/IFAS Extension Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and Naturally EscaRosa would like to invite agritour and ecotour providers to the 2014 Agri/Eco-tourism Business Development Conference on November 5-6, 2014. The conference is geared for businesses wishing to...
Earthworms aren’t the only beneficial composters!
I started a little vermiculture bin year before last with one cup of red wigglers from the local bait shop. I carefully sorted my garbage so there was no grease or animal protein in the bin and counted the worms every Saturday. Yes, I was a little obsessive about it....