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EDIS Update

New and revised publications from the University of Florida Insitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

    Swarm Control for Managed Beehives (ENY160/IN970)

    December 19th, 2012
    Topic(s):Agriculture, Small Farms

    Figure 1. A swarm of bees has clustered on playground equipment. Honey bee swarms are a normal sign of a productive and strong honey bee colony. The population of honey bees in the environment grows and genes are exchanged as the new queen in the parent colony mates with drones from other colonies in the surrounding environment. Unfortunately, this activity often conflicts with the goals of the beekeeper, so good colony management includes swarm prevention. During the swarm season, hive owners should undertake proactive beekeeping practices to alter colonies in response to potential swarming behavior. In this way, the beekeeper maintains strong colonies with greater honey production and the potential to split and increase the total number of colonies, all of which makes beekeeping much more profitable for hive owners. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Sara DeBerry, John Crowley, and James D. Ellis, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, November 2012.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in970

    Preserving Woodenware in Beekeeping Operations (ENY125/AA244)

    December 19th, 2012
    Topic(s):Agriculture, Small Farms

    Figure 4. The outer surfaces of the hive should be painted, but do not paint the inner cover, the inside walls of the hive, or the frames.The predominant material used to construct honey bee colonies in the U.S. is wood. Though honey bee hive components are simple in design, they are subjected to many extreme management techniques that cause wear and tear, ultimately shortening the life of the equipment. This article discusses how to protect colony woodenware, particularly the pieces that are exposed to the elements. These include the bottom board, hive body/supers, and lids. This 4-page fact sheet was written by J. D. Ellis, W. H. Kern, and C. M. Zettel Nalen, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, June 2012.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/aa244

    Hydration in Hot Working Environments (FCS80018/FY1325)

    April 2nd, 2012
    Topic(s):Health & Nutrition, Lawn & Garden, Small Farms, Water, Workplace

    Figure 1.Are you at risk for heat-related illnesses? Summertime isn’t the only time you should be concerned about drinking enough water to stay hydrated. Workers in construction, landscaping, laundry, factory, farm, or restaurant settings, among others, often are faced with hot working environments year-round. These conditions can increase the risk for developing heat-related illnesses, so staying well hydrated is very important. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Jeanine Beatty and Gail P. A. Kauwell, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, March 2012.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1325

    Growing Heirloom Tomato Varieties in Southwest Florida (HS921/HS174)

    March 6th, 2012
    Topic(s):Crops, Lawn & Garden, Organic, Small Farms

    Figure 1. Common heirloom varieties growing in South FloridaHeirloom tomatoes have seen a rebirth in popularity because of increasing demand for fresh, fully ripe, tasty tomatoes. A tomato must meet three criteria to be considered an heirloom variety: The variety must be reproduced by seed, must have been cultivated for more than 50 years, and must have a history. Heirloom tomatoes are known for their singular taste, shape, and color, which include purple, orange, and yellow, in addition to the common red tomatoes. This 9-page fact sheet was written by Monica Ozores-Hampton, Charles S. Vavrina, and Aline Coelho Frasca, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, February 2012.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs174

    Alternative Opportunities for Small Farms: Peach and Nectarine Production Review (RFAC018/AC018)

    September 21st, 2011
    Topic(s):Crops, Small Farms

    PeachFlorida produces some of the earliest commercial-quality peaches and nectarines in North America. During the last 10 years, many new, improved peach and nectarine cultivars have been released by the University of Florida. They have increased the potential for expansion of commercial peach and nectarine acreage throughout much of the Florida peninsula and along the Gulf Coast regions of the southeastern United States. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Mercy Olmstead, Jeff Williamson, Jose Chaparro, and Tim Crocker, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, September 2011.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ac018

    ENY150/IN720: Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in Honey Bees

    August 18th, 2010
    Topic(s):Agriculture, Small Farms

    Revised! ENY-150, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by Jamie Ellis, explains what is known about about this problem threatening the beekeeping industry in the U.S. — its symptoms, theories about its cause, how it affects the general public, what’s being done, and management recommendations for beekeepers. Includes selected references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, July 2010.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in720

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