Weeds can be defined as unwanted plants or plants growing out of place. Proper identification and some understanding of how and why weeds are present in a lawn are important when selecting the best control strategy. Knowing if weeds were previously present in an area also helps homeowners prepare control measures in the future. Weed control should be a carefully planned and coordinated program.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep141 Previous version: Unruh, Joseph, Ramon Leon, Barry Brecke, and Laurie Trenholm. 2013. “Weed Management Guide for Florida Lawns”. EDIS 2013 (7). https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/view/121086.

The Victory2020 Garden Community Program was established by faculty members within the University of Florida (UF), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) in Marion and Columbia County Extension offices. In response to COVID-19, the purpose of the program was to provide online-mediated programs that could be completed at the desired pace of the participants, while promoting a self-reliant, science-based approach to learning about home food production through gardening. Due to food insecurity rates in both Marion (14.4%) and Columbia (15.2%) counties ranking above the statewide average in Florida, an immediate need to provide educational resources on becoming self-sufficient in growing one’s own food became increasingly important due to nationwide supply-chain shortages (Feeding America, 2020). 2,548 participants representing 43 states and six countries were provided access to eight learning modules hosted by Canvas, an online tool through UF. Participants were provided a package of free seeds, including corn, squash, cucumber, and cowpea to plant their Victory2020 Garden. A purposeful online community was established by extension agents in Marion and Columbia counties to facilitate quality discussion and growth, culminating in over 225,000 total impressions. The findings of the program revealed that 88% of gardening households began eating more fruits and vegetables while 73% are embracing new food safety techniques in both the garden and kitchen. Primary investigators and co-pi's recommend an implementation of a program timeline to benefit the participants through diverse, online learning options. Continued programming addressing mental health, nutrition, and gardening is recommended across extension programs nationally.

Galling or witch’s broom damage on the newly expanding buds and leaves of woody ornamental plants has become increasingly common. Diagnosing this damage can be difficult because the most common causes are obscure or occur well before damage symptoms appear. This -page fact sheet written by and published by the UF/IFAS is intended to help landscape managers, nursery growers, and pest control professionals diagnose characteristic galling damage, mitigate damage that occurs, and, when possible, prevent it from occurring.

In the state of Florida there are three statutory chapters that dictate the rules for pesticide applications. Each chapter, 388 (mosquito), 482 (structural pest control), and 487 (agriculture and other sites), differs on who needs a license to apply pesticides and what the rules are for those who oversee unlicensed applicators. This new 3-page publication will define those rules and give guidance on what is needed to supervise unlicensed applicators in the state of Florida. Written by Brett W. Bultemeier and Erin E. Harlow and published by the UF/IFAS Pesticide Information Office.

It can be difficult to determine which pesticide license is needed for an applicator's specific situation. Each license has unique study material, a different fee structure, and varied CEU requirements. This new 71-page publication utilizes a "dichotomous key" for the pesticide license process to help guide users to the correct license. Each license category page will also provide all the relevant information needed to get and maintain a license in the state of Florida.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi292