August 17, 2019 By Jennifer Bearden | Okaloosa County Extension Office Soil scientists like to use the phrase “it depends” an awful lot for educated folks. Before getting a master’s degree in soil science, I used to get very frustrated with that answer. Now I find myself saying just that to clients. Case in point: a client who hadn’t had ...
Read More »
by Larry Williams July 25, 2019 Recently, Okaloosa County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel mentioned to me that she had seen brown widow spiders in parts of Okaloosa County on multiple occasions. Concerned about this and to provide better awareness of this spider, she asked if I could write an article about this spider. Most people seem to be aware of the black ...
Read More »
by Matt Lollar July 12, 2019 The UF/IFAS Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Team and the Panhandle Agriculture Extension Team are pleased to announce the return of the Panhandle Fruit and Vegetable Conference. Registration is now open for the 2019 Panhandle Fruit & Vegetable Conference. This year’s event will move to the beach, to the Emerald Coast Convention Center in Fort Walton ...
Read More »
June 6, 2019 Walk-in Plant Clinic Friday, June 14, 9am-Noon UF/IFAS Extension Okaloosa County Annex 127 Hollywood Blvd NW Fort Walton Beach, FL UF/IFAS Extension Okaloosa County Horticultural Agent Larry Williams and a team of Master Gardener volunteers will be at the monthly Plant Clinic on Friday, June 14, 9:00 a.m. to noon at the County Extension Annex, 127 Hollywood ...
Read More »
June 3, 2019 by Jennifer Bearden Hurricane season is officially here. Here are a few helpful tips to prepare a livestock operation for a tropical storm or hurricane. Livestock are safer in a large pasture free of debris. Barns can easily fail during a storm, leaving the animals injured, trapped or dead. Perimeter fences should be sturdy, preferably woven wire and ...
Read More »
May 31, 2019 by Larry Williams Most years, the month of May is a relatively dry, warm month here in Northwest Florida. This Memorial Day weekend forecast shows hot temperatures with little to no rain. It looks like this weather pattern will be similar for at least the short term forecast. The heat, winds and relatively low humidity result in ...
Read More »
May 31, 2019 : by Erik Lovestrand Our coastal habitats are some of the most beautiful on the planet. Where else can you have the breathtaking, wide open vistas of our salt marshes, the incredible productivity of our nearshore bays, and the expansive pinelands in the adjacent uplands. Year-round opportunities abound to be outside and enjoy the natural resources we are ...
Read More »
May 4, 2019 | by Michael Goodchild Bahiagrass is the most common warm season perennial forage grass in the Florida Panhandle. While its most common use is grazing, there are other ways producers can generate revenue from bahiagrass fields. The most common alternative to grazing is hay production. However, buying hay equipment or contracting someone to bale hay is ...
Read More »
May 1, 2019 by Melanie Taylor 4-H Summer Camp preparations are in full swing all over the state. As a 4-H agent preparing for our week of county 4-H camp, my days are busy with phone calls and emails from parents, teen counselor training, adult volunteer screenings, paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork. Although it’s busy time for me as a 4-H ...
Read More »
April 19, 2019 by Sheila Dunning All of Florida’s ecosystems contain pine trees. There are seven native species in the state; Sand, Slash, Spruce, Shortleaf, Loblolly, Longleaf, and Pond. Each species grows best in its particular environment. Pines are highly important to wildlife habitats as food and shelter. Several species are equally valuable to Florida’s economy. Slash, Loblolly, and Longleaf are ...
Read More »