Weed Alert: Lanceleaf Rattlebox

Recently an unusual weed has been spotted in pastures across Santa Rosa County.  After research on the specific genus and species the weed has been identified as Crotalaria lanceolata (Lanceleaf Rattlebox).  There are dozens of Crotalaria species in Florida.  Most are...

How Much Land Does a Horse Need?

John Doyle Atkins, Santa Rosa County Extension             It’s a question that has been strongly debated for years: How much land does a horse need for grazing here in northwest Florida?  The horse is a non-ruminant herbivore and a grazing animal.  A horse requires a...

Are your horses immunized against EEE & WNV?

Almost every summer in Florida, horses die due to diseases spread by mosquitos.  Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) takes the lives of several horses in the Panhandle each year.  West Nile Virus (WNV) is also a concern, but is not as common as EEE.   Both can be...

Pigeon Fever Cases Confirmed in Northwest Florida

A large animal veterinarian in north Florida has confirmed four cases of Pigeon Fever in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. Pigeon Fever is an infection caused by the bacteria, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis.  There are three forms of this disease: external abscesses,...