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EDIS Update

New and revised publications in the EDIS publications database

    Hydrilla Management in Florida Lakes (SSAGR361/AG370)

    March 13th, 2012
    Topic(s):Ecosystems & Species

    Hydrilla infestation on an 8–10 foot deep Lake Tohopekaliga in Central Florida.Hydrilla is the most aggressive invasive plant in Florida waters. It can provide some benefits to fish and wildlife at low levels of coverage, but it also can have major detrimental impacts to water uses, causing substantial economic and environmental hardships. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Stacia A. Hetrick and Ken A. Langeland, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, March 2012.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag370

    Estimating Amount of Forage in Hay Fields and Pastures (SSAGR360/AG369)

    March 13th, 2012
    Topic(s):Livestock

    Figure 1AForage serves as the primary source of nutrients for livestock in Florida, and efficient use of forage is critical to the livelihood of Florida farmers and ranchers. Estimating the amount of forage in a pasture can provide useful information when making management decisions. There must be enough material in the field to justify the cost of using harvesting equipment; otherwise, the area should be grazed. This 2-page fact sheet contains instructions for a simple method to determine the approximate amount of forage in hay fields and pastures. Written by T. Wilson, C. Sanders, J. Breman, and L. Sollenberger, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, March 2012.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag369

    Control of Lantana in Pastures (SSAGR359/AG368)

    March 2nd, 2012
    Topic(s):Crops, Livestock

    Figure 2. Lantana flowers of (A) purple/white and (B) red/yellow are common.Lantana is currently one of the top 10 most troublesome weeds in Florida. Although it is still sold as an ornamental, commercial varieties are sterile and considered to be non-invasive. It can quickly invade disturbed sites by producing plant toxins in its roots and stems, that either slow the growth of other plants or totally remove them. These leaf toxins are damaging to grazing animals. If animals consume the leaves, they often begin to show symptoms of skin peeling or cracking. Once animals show these symptoms, there is little or no treatment that can reverse the process. Although lantana’s leaves are poisonous, its berries are not. Birds readily consume the fruit and disperse the seed. This 2-page fact sheet was written by J. Ferrell, B. Sellers, and E. Jennings, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, February 2012.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag368

    Production of Biofuel Crops in Florida: Sweet Sorghum (SSAGR293/AG298)

    January 9th, 2012
    Topic(s):Crops

    Figure 2. Sweet sorghum planted in FloridaVarieties of sorghum with a high concentration of soluble sugars are attractive as a potential energy crop because of the easy accessibility of readily fermentable sugars combined with very high yields of green biomass. Similar to sugarcane, the sap of sweet sorghum is extracted by milling, and can be easily fermented to produce ethanol. Other products from sweet sorghum include syrup, molasses, and crystal sugar. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Wilfred Vermerris, John Erickson, David Wright, Yoana Newman, and Curtis Rainbolt, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, December 2011.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag298

    Bracken Fern Control in Pastures (SSAGR357/AG366)

    December 23rd, 2011
    Topic(s):Livestock

    Figure 1. Bracken fern. Bracken fern is a poisonous plant common along tree lines, in forest openings, and around building borders. Animals will consum it when adequate forage is not available. Learn more in this 2-page fact sheet was written by J. Ferrell, B. Sellers, and T. Wilson , and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, December 2011.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag366

    Production of Giant Reed for Biofuel (SSAGR318/AG327)

    December 15th, 2011
    Topic(s):Crops

    Figure 2. Giant reed with flower headsGiant reed is currently being evaluated as a potential biomass energy crop in Florida, even though some scientists and those in other states consider it to be a noxious or invasive weed. This 4-page fact sheet discusses the adaptation and production of giant reed as a potential energy crop and presents measures for controlling giant reed as an escaped weed. It does not give specific recommendations on whether it is better to control giant reed or produce it for biofuel. Written by Dennis Odero, Robert Gilbert, Jason Ferrell, and Zane Helsel, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, November 2011.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag327

    "Earlyploid": Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass (SSAGR355/AG364)

    November 28th, 2011
    Topic(s):Crops

    "Earlyploid" - Tetraploid Annual RyegrassEarlyploid, developed at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center, is a large-seeded, upright, early forage-producing and early maturing annual ryegrass. Regional variety trials show it is the earliest tetraploid ryegrass cultivar available commercially. It offers excellent disease resistance and sufficient cold tolerance to be grown successfully in the southern annual ryegrass region of the U.S. This 1-page fact sheet was written by A.R. Blount, G.M. Prine, C.L. Mackowiak, K.E. Kenworthy, J.C. Jones, and P.E. Reith, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, October 2011.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag364

    "Ocala": A New Diploid Annual Ryegrass for the Southern U.S. (SSAGR356/AG365)

    November 28th, 2011
    Topic(s):Crops

    "Ocala" - A New Diploid Annual Ryegrass for the Southern U.S.Ocala, a new UF annual ryegrass, has excellent disease resistance and sufficient cold tolerance to be grown successfully in the southern annual ryegrass region of the U.S. It is a well-adapted, diploid annual ryegrass population. Parentage includes several advanced experimental annual ryegrass populations for Florida and Nebraska. This 1-page fact sheet was written by A.R. Blount, G.M. Prine, K.E. Kenworthy, P. Mislevy, J.C. Jones, and P.E. Reith, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, October 2011.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag365

    Prickly Pear Cactus Control in Pastures (SSAGR354/AG363)

    September 26th, 2011
    Topic(s):Crops, Livestock

    prickly-pear cactusPrickly pear cactus is not a problem in every pasture in Florida, but where it is found, it is often the biggest and most difficult issue to manage: mowing prickly pear fragments the pads and dramatically increases the infestation, and although prickly pear doesn’t form dense canopies and doesn’t outcompete desirable forage grasses, its impact on grazing can be just as severe because of its barbed quills. This 2-page fact sheet was written by J. A. Ferrell and B. A. Sellers, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, September 2011.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag363

    Fall Panicum: Biology and Control in Sugarcane (SSAGR132/SC079)

    July 29th, 2011
    Topic(s):Crops

    fall panicum seedlingFall panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum) is a native grass that can be found throughout the United States in agronomic and horticultural crops, turfgrass, nurseries, landscapes, and noncrop areas. It grows well in warm wet conditions and is one of the most common grass weeds found in Florida sugarcane. This 3-page fact sheet provides sugarcane growers with guidance on its identification and control. Written by D.C. Odero, Brent Sellers, Les Baucum, and Curtis Rainbolt, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, May 2011.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sc079

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