Latest news with #InstituteofFoodandAgriculturalSciences
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Our family farm, Alderman Organic Farms, supports Earth Day and quality of life
People around the world will celebrate Earth Day on April 22. On our family farm, Alderman Organic Farms, we achieve Earth Day objectives throughout the year, guided by respect for the blessings natural resources provide. We grow an array of certified organic vegetables, including tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, eggplant and cabbage from late October to early June. We also produce beef cattle and conventionally grown herbs. By maintaining our Palm Beach County farm as level ground, we prevent soil erosion. We flood it during the summer months with collected rainwater and nearby surface water to control harmful insects, avoiding the use of chemicals. In all seasons our farm functions as a large retention pond that helps to recharge the aquifer all southeastern Florida residents depend upon for drinking water. Regular soil testing allows us to apply precise amounts of fertilizer for each plant only when necessary for growth. As a result, we achieve plentiful harvests while making sure that water leaving our farm is not contaminated by phosphate. We have to conserve our water and our soil not only for the next crop, but for the next generation and the generations after that. We pick and pack what we grow. One of our staff members oversees food safety daily, assuring that the produce coming out of our farm is safe and fresh. As a primary part of our beef cattle production, we suppress invasive vegetation with controlled burns. This technique supports the growth of native plants and trees and also maintains habitat and food sources for the abundant wildlife surrounding us. Along with other farm families in Florida, we help preserve our national security by growing food. We also support our collective economy. In our county, agriculture supports more than 194,000 jobs, as University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences data show. On our farm we have 50 full-time employees. On this Earth Day I hope that all Floridians recognize that farmers are outstanding stewards of our state's natural resources. We are basic contributors to the positive quality of life in our state available for everyone. Jim Alderman is president & CEO of Alderman Organic Farms, a 1,200 acre operation in Palm Beach and Martin counties. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Earth Day, a time to remember best farming practices | Opinion
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Invasive Argentine tegu has established itself in a new Florida county. What to know
Burmese pythons. Lionfish. Iguanas. Tegu lizards. Say what? Argentine black and white tegus aren't the most recent invasive species in Florida, and they won't be the last, unfortunately. What they are doing are making themselves at home in Florida. And not just in South Florida. More than 1,500 have been captured or seen in St. Lucie County and even states beyond Florida's border are seeing them. What is a tegu lizard and what can or should you do if you spot one? The Argentine black and white tegu is large lizard that can grow to nearly 5 feet long and weigh 10 pounds, according to University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Unlike green iguanas, another Florida invasive species, tegus rarely climb more than a few feet off the ground, but are strong swimmers. "In west-central Florida they inhabit dry uplands with sandy soils, including natural, urbanized, and agricultural areas. In southern Florida, they occur in densely vegetated areas along canals and roadsides." There are several types of tegus, although the Argentine black and white is the most popular as pets, according to PangoVet. The Argentine black and white tegu has mottled black and white skin. The colors are often arranged into a banding pattern across the back and tail. Hatchlings display similar markings, but typically have bright green heads. The green fades after they reach about one month of age. There are "reproducing populations" of Argentine black and white tegus established in Hillsborough, Miami-Dade and Charlotte counties, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Service. The newest established population was recently discovered in St. Lucie County after several confirmed reports were received through the FWC's Exotic Species Hotline. Argentine black and white tegus have also been reported in other Florida counties, although these are most likely isolated occasions of escaped or released pets, the agency said. ➤ Map: Reports of tegus in Florida Tegus pose a threat not only to Florida, but other states in the Southeast, including Georgia and South Carolina, according to the USFWS Southeast Region. "Although not considered aggressive toward people, tegus will defend themselves if threatened," according to the Georgia Fish and Wildlife Service. "They can react fast and lash with their tails. They have sharp teeth and claws and strong jaws." Bites can cause serious injuries if you don't take proper precautions, according to WebMD. From late fall and through the winter months, tegus head into burrows for a hibernation-type period known as brumation to avoid freezing temperatures. "As a result, they have the potential to expand their range across much of the Southeast. An established population already exists in southeast Georgia," according to the University of Florida. In South Florida, they typically begin to emerge from their burrows in February, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. "Tegu breeding in Florida begins in early spring. Female tegus reach reproductive maturity after their second year of brumation or when they are about 12 inches long from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail," the Fish and Wildlife Service said. Nests of dried vegetation are often found at the base of trees, in clumps of tall grass or in burrows. "They lay an average of 35 eggs per year. Eggs incubate for approximately 60 days." Tegus may live up to 20 years, and adults have few predators. Tegus are omnivorous, eating fruits, eggs, insects and small animals including reptiles and rodents. The Fish and Wildlife Service said tegus not only eat alligator eggs, but also disturb the nests of American crocodiles in Florida. They also consume the threatened gopher tortoise, eating eggs and hatchlings. Tegus are listed as a prohibited species in Florida and may not be possessed without a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "Through the FWC's Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, pet owners who are either unable to care for their exotic pets, such as tegus, or who no longer wish to keep them can surrender them with no questions asked and without penalties regardless of whether those pets are kept legally or illegally." Tegus are not protected in Florida except by anti-cruelty law and can be humanely killed on private property as long as you have the landowner's permission. They also can be captured and humanely killed all year, without a permit or hunting license, on 32 commission-managed lands in South Florida, the Fish and Wildlife Service said. The agency said it is "prioritizing control and removal of emerging tegu populations in new areas, including the Charlotte County and St. Lucie County populations." Take a picture, take note of the location, and report the information to the Fish and Wildlife Service's Exotic Species Hotline, 888-483-4681 or 1-888-Ive-Got1. You can also report online at or using the IveGot1 mobile app, available on the AppStore and Google Play. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Tegu is not an iguana, now in 4 Florida counties. Can you kill it?
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida's citrus industry, once thriving, is now in decline
MIAMI (NewsNation) — Florida's citrus industry is facing a crisis with a trifecta of challenges threatening its survival: Frequent hurricanes, rapid population growth and citrus greening disease. According to the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, In 2021, the citrus industry contributed nearly $7 billion to the state's economy and was responsible for more than 30,000 jobs. However, in recent years, citrus has suffered. These issues have caused a 90% decline in orange production over the past two decades. Citrus groves in Florida, which covered more than 832,00 acres at the turn of the century, populated scarcely 275,000 acres last year. US importing more eggs as bird flu continues to spread According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Florida Citrus Mutual, production of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and tangelos are all down from last year. The Sunshine State, once the leading citrus producer, is now number 2 behind California. Hurricanes have played a major role in this decline. 'Since 2017, we've had Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Milton come through the citrus belt,' said Trevor Murphy, a citrus grower. 'On top of that, we also had some freezes, the first time that we've had in probably 10-plus years. The trees are already in a weakened state because of the greening.' Since 2020, more than half a dozen storms have made landfall. Many, including Hurricanes Ian and Milton, went right over Central and South Florida, where citrus groves are located. AI to be used in Taco Bell, Pizza Hut restaurants The University of Florida estimates that Hurricane Milton alone caused between $23 and $55 million in damage to the industry. Greening disease, caused by a bacteria spread by a tiny insect, has further devastated the industry. Once a tree is infected, there is no cure, and the disease has resulted in a 90% reduction in Florida's citrus production since 2006. Growers have resorted to measures such as wrapping trees in mesh bags to try to protect them. Scientists at the University of Florida are working to breed some varieties of trees that, when they are infected, can still produce fruit. While it will still be a few years until the trees that can survive the disease are ready to be planted, it is offering hope to growers. Beyond the farming challenges, citrus is used to make candy, jams and jellies, and orange juice. Consumers are drinking less orange juice, and citrus growers are folding up their operations in the state. Tropicana, which used to be the leading supplier of orange juice in the market, is struggling to stay afloat. Is there a car loan bubble and is it about to burst? Additionally, as more people flock to Florida and growers are selling land to developers, the demand for housing has led to the conversion of citrus groves into residential developments. Polk County, Florida's top citrus producer, is also the fastest-growing county in the state. In 2023, it saw the largest population increase of any county in the U.S., with new homes being built on land that was once dedicated to citrus farming. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Python 'hot spot' identified in Palm Beach County by University of Florida study
Palm Beach County's wild southern reaches of spikey cattail marsh are harboring a hot spot for the state's most abhorred invasive species. University of Florida researchers looking to unlock the perfect equation for successfully hunting Burmese pythons studied the time, day, weather and hunting grounds of state contractors working to reduce the spread of the voracious constrictor. While many hunters were found to catch an abundance of pythons in specific condensed areas along the edges of Everglades National Park, and south of Biscayne National Park, there were two locations that stood out as spots where a limited number of hunters were racking up lots of pythons. One area was along the western edge of Big Cypress National Preserve in Collier County. The other was in Palm Beach County's stormwater treatment area 3-4, which is about 24 miles south of Belle Glade and adjacent to the Holey Land Wildlife Management Area. If a few hunters are catching a lot of pythons in the stormwater treatment area, then increasing the number of hunters there should yield even more results, researchers reason. 'That's definitely an area where we need to get more folks out there because it offers a high probability of being successful,' said Melissa Miller, an invasion ecologist with UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. 'It used to be, a decade ago, you wouldn't find many pythons in that area.' Stormwater treatment areas are manmade marshes whose plants remove phosphorus and other chemicals from water before it makes its way south through the Everglades. More: Grand prize winner of 2024 Florida Python Challenge announced The UF study, which was published in the journal Scientific Reports last month, analyzed two year's worth of data collected during 16,000 hours of hunting. Hunter movements are tracked by GPS. That information was then correlated with weather conditions based on the South Florida Water Management District's meteorological monitoring stations. In addition to identifying python hot spots, the study found the optimal time to hunt pythons was between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. during the May to October wet season. The month of August had the highest number of catches. Using aquatic vehicles such as airboats enhances hunting efficiency, the study noted. And while nighttime hunts are generally more successful, that's not true during cold snaps when the average daily temperature is 50 degrees or lower. On chilly days, pythons will often slink out of the underbrush to sun themselves on levees or roads. Alexander Romer, a quantitative biologist who worked on the study, said what researchers found removes some of the guesswork from python hunting. 'We took everyone's data and based on that we can say these are the best conditions to catch a snake,' Romer said. More: Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge goes on offense to fight invasive Burmese python spread The Burmese python invasion started with releases — intentional or not — of captive snakes, which likely gained a foothold in Everglades National Park by the mid-1980s, according to the 2021 Florida Python Control plan. By 2000, multiple generations of pythons were living in the park, which is noted in a more than 100-page U.S. Geological Survey report from 2023 that summarized decades of python research. The report also notes that pythons have moved progressively north, including into areas surrounding Lake Okeechobee. Outside of the recent study, Romer said he looked at the demographics of pythons captured in Palm Beach County's hot spot and found them to be larger snakes. 'They are adults, and that kind of suggests that it's an area you are having dispersal into,' he said. 'Those animals are moving there, but it's unclear how much reproduction is going on.' In Palm Beach County, 69 pythons have been captured since 2006, according to the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System, or EDDMapS. In addition, four have been found dead, and 24 sightings have been reported. The water management district has focused some of its efforts south of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge west of Boynton Beach, hoping to keep the pythons out of the only intact remnant of the northern Everglades. Hunters generally earn an hourly rate of $13. But incentive pay of $30 an hour is offered in the refuge as an effort to bring more hunters into an area where they are less likely to find a plethora of snakes. Stormwater treatment areas pay $18 an hour. There are no reliable estimates of python abundance in Florida, the 2023 report says. It also noted that "eradication of the entire population across the landscape is not possible with any existing tools." 'You can't give up though. There is too much at stake,' Miller said. 'Maybe the tools we have right now are not going to eradicate pythons, but in keeping going and trying and exploring new methods, one day I hope there will be a tool that will help.' To report an invasive species to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, call 1-888-483-4681, or 1-888-Ive-Got1. Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate, weather, and the environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@ Help support our local journalism; subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County has a python hot spot found by the University of Florida
