Inside IFAS March 2006

Please accept our apologies for taking so long to produce this issue. Personnel changes in the External and Media Relations office left us temporarily shorthanded and caused production delays.

If you haven’t seen the new External and Media Relations Web site, please have a look, at http://emr.ifas.ufl.edu. You’ll find numerous helpful features, including contacts for the EMR office, links to past issues of “IMPACT” magazine and “INSIDE IFAS” and information about the IMAGE awards. For reporters, there’s an experts guide and general information about UF/IFAS.

The site, which was designed by Jack Battenfield and Kimberly Mansfield and built by Varun Jobanputra, also contains links to other UF/IFAS Web pages, including the faculty and staff directory, news home page, photography archives, calendar and the Solutions for Your Life site.

In a related development, the archiving system for the news Web site has undergone a significant behind-the-scenes change to make it easier to use. News releases are being assigned permanent identification numbers, which means you’ll never again click on a link expecting to see one news story and find yourself looking at something else. We plan to modify the links in past online issues of “INSIDE IFAS” so that readers can access the correct stories. Visit our archives at http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/inside_ifas/index.htm.

As always, we need your help to keep “INSIDE IFAS” going strong as the voice of faculty and staff. Please send brief news items to insideifas@ifas.ufl.edu, including all the essential information – who, what, when, where, why and how.

Produced by UF/IFAS External and Media Relations in cooperation with IFAS Communication Services, the online “INSIDE IFAS” is a work in progress, so please let us know if you have any suggestions for improvements. We look forward to hearing from you!

ONLINE STORIES

3.16.2006 New UF Program Helps Children Avoid Snakes

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1084

3.13.2006 UF Student Teams Score Top-Five Finishes in Turf Competition

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1082

3.13.2006 McLellan Named Chair of FDA Food Advisory Committee

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1081

3.3.2006 E.T. York Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from Auburn University Alumni Association

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1080

3.3.2006 Jane Luzar Named American Council of Education Fellow

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1079

2.24.2006 Paul Willis Named Executive Assistant to UF Senior VP for Agriculture and Natural Resources

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1075

2.24.2006 Douglas Archer Named Associate Dean for Research at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1074

2.24.2006 Academic Mace Created for UF’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1073

2.21.2006 Agricultural Awareness Initiative Targets Florida Residents

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1072

2.20.2006 New Book on Women Engineers Spotlights Four at UF

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1071

2.13.2006 David Sammons Named Director of International Programs at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1067

2.10.2006 Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach Celebrates 50th Anniversary Feb. 17th

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1063

2.10.2006 Swindle Family Endowments Honor UF’s Jimmy Cheek and Larry Arrington

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1062

2.2.2006 Manure Matters: UF Waste Management System Produces Energy, Protects Environment and Stops Annoying Odors

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1059

1.13.2006 Florida Land Boom: New UF Survey Shows Florida Farmland Values Increased by 50 Percent to 88 Percent During Past Year

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1057

1.6.2006 When Freezes Threaten Crops, State, Statewide Florida Automated Weather Network Helps Growers Avoid Losses

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1054

1.5.2006 Florida Folic Acid Coalition at UF Promotes 2006 Awareness Program

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1053

12.15.2005 UF’s “Family Album Radio” Series Now Available Via Podcasting

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1050

12.15.2005 UF’s Carlton Davis Inducted Into George Washington Carver Hall of Fame at Tuskeegee University

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1049

12.05.2005 John Warner, First Ph.D. Graduate From UF’s Fort Lauderdale Center, Develops Bait to Stop Troublesome White-Footed Ant

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1047

12.05.2005 UF Agronomy-Soils Club Wins National Quiz Bowl Competition

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1046

11.29.2005 UF Student Erica Der Elected to National FFA Position

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.aspx?id=1043

FEATURES

Grant-Writing Seminar Kicks Off Drive to Energize Research

A grant-writing seminar held in December kicked off a large-scale effort to energize the UF/IFAS research program.

The seminar, open to all faculty members, was led by Stephen Russell, a scientist and grant-writing expert whose qualifications include a stint as a professor and department chairman at UF’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

The all-day event showed participants how to identify an appropriate funding agency, take preliminary steps needed before writing a grant proposal, understand the review process, and enhance their skills writing each section of a typical grant proposal.

The seminar was also the jumping-off point for a 30-week grant-writing workshop for a small group of UF/IFAS faculty, who will develop and submit grant proposals under the guidance of Grant Writers’ Seminars and Workshops LLC, a California-based consulting agency Russell co-founded.

Both events will help faculty members secure greater research funding and build the productivity and prestige of UF/IFAS’ research enterprise, said Mark McLellan, dean for research.

“We’re trying to help everybody take their work to the next level,” McLellan said.

Almost 60 percent of UF/IFAS faculty attended the December seminar, he said. A second seminar is scheduled for May 18-19, and will be open to faculty members and postdoctoral associates. Another seminar and workshop are planned for 2007.

New Web Site Promotes “Living Green” Television Series

Now there’s more than one screen where you’ll find “Living Green” – the public television series now has its own Web site devoted to conservation and environmental issues.

Located at http://livinggreen.ifas.ufl.edu, the Web site mirrors its television counterpart – upbeat and aimed at consumers interested in sustainable development and preservation of Florida’s natural heritage.

On the Web site, users can watch the two completed episodes of “Living Green” – concerning invasive species and landscaping for wildlife – and learn about three episodes in production, which focus on conservation easements, alternative energy sources and ways to save energy. Other features on the site provide information about the series’ production team and sponsors, and offer episodes for sale on DVD.

For those interested in exploring the series’ content further, the site includes in-depth information on water, energy, waste, landscaping, wildlife and natural history. Material will likely be added to complement future episodes as they are completed.

Launched in February, the Web site was a collaborative effort between “Living Green” creator Mark Hostetler (Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department), graduate student Liz Swiman, program assistant Sarah Miller and the IFAS Web team.

Though five episodes of the series were planned initially, Hostetler said response has been so favorable that production now is expected to continue indefinitely.

In December, the series’ first episode, on landscaping for wildlife, won an Award of Distinction in the 2005 Video Competition held by The Communicator Awards, an international awards program serving the communications field.

Nair Receives Honorary Degree from University in Ghana

In November, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, awarded P.K. Nair (School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Agroforestry/International Forestry) an honorary Doctor of Science degree.

He was one of 11 scientists and dignitaries who received degrees to honor their long-term assistance to the university, one of the leading scientific institutions in West Africa. Nair was recognized for his contributions to the development of agroforestry in Ghana and throughout the world.

The degrees were awarded during a special ceremony Nov. 26, which was attended by the Ghanian minister of state, university administrators, faculty, staff and citizens from around the country. At the event, Nair read an acceptance speech on behalf of the honorees.

During his visit to Ghana, Nair visited local agroforestry sites, had roundtable discussions with faculty and students from the university’s agroforestry department, and met with the university’s vice chancellor to discuss possible future collaborations in agroforestry distance education.

Nair previously received an honorary doctoral degree from Kyoto University in Japan in 2002. This summer, he will receive a similar honor from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.

2006 Superior Accomplishment Award Winners Announced

The results of the UF/IFAS Staff and Faculty Superior Accomplishment Awards have been announced! The awards, which recognize outstanding job performance, will be presented at a reception Wednesday, March 29 at 2 p.m. in Salons D and H of the J. Wayne Reitz Union’s Grand Ballroom.

Each of the 23 winners will be presented with a check for $200, a certificate and a commemorative coffee mug set.

The winners are:

ACADEMIC PERSONNEL

Marguerite Beckford

Program Extension Agent I

Miami-Dade County

Kevin M. Folta

Assistant Professor

Horticultural Sciences

ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL

Ralph W. Hoffman

Coordinator, Research Programs/Services

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Joel W. Parlin

IT Specialist

Gulf Coast REC, Balm

Melissa A. Webb

Coordinator, Academic Support Services

Horticultural Sciences

ADMINISTRATIVE/SUPERVISORY

Joseph L. Jones

Farm Supervisor

Animal Sciences

John Thomas

Farm Supervisor

Horticultural Sciences

Yasmin Wallas

Information Specialist

North Florida REC, Quincy

CLERICAL/OFFICE SUPPORT

Peggy S. Briggs

Office Assistant

Animal Sciences

Donna M. Durgin

Senior Fiscal Assistant

North Florida REC, Quincy

Shirley R. Ellison

Extension Program Assistant

Volusia County

Toyuna V. Grant

Office Assistant

Animal Sciences

Laurie A. Osborne

Secretary

North Florida REC, Quincy

Kimberle R. Rollins

Executive Secretary

Dean for Extension Office

SUPPORT SERVICES

Sheryl L. Cunningham

Senior Clerk

Citrus REC, Lake Alfred

Todd B. Test

Maintenance Mechanic

Gulf Coast REC, Balm

William D. Witt

Electrician

Facilities Planning & Operations

SCIENTIFIC/TECHNICAL

Gretchen A. Baut

Audio Visual Specialist

Citrus REC, Lake Alfred

Orlando L. Lanni

Engineer

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Curtis A. Nagle

Biological Scientist

Gulf Coast REC, Balm

Patricia A. Rayside

Senior Biological Scientist

Plant Pathology

Dwight L. Thomas

Senior Agricultural Assistant

Agronomy

Ewa Wroclawska

Senior Biological Scientist

Animal Sciences

INFORM

Podcasting Opens New Possibilities for Internet Audio

In our last issue, “INFORM” looked at RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, a new way consumers can access print news via the Internet. This month, we’ll focus on podcasting, a related technology that provides sound recordings people can enjoy on personal computers and portable digital music players.

Podcasting has become a popular way for people on the go to keep up with news and information. But like RSS, podcasting is so new it’s left some consumers confused about what it is, how it works and whether they can use it. We’ll try to answer those questions.

What Is Podcasting?

Podcasting is simply a method of distributing sound recordings via the Internet. There are other ways to accomplish the same thing, but podcasting has gained a great deal of attention because it’s associated with portable digital music players.

These next-generation personal stereos play computer files rather than compact discs or cassette tapes, and they’ve became enormously popular since Apple Computer’s iPod hit the market in late 2001.

Because these music players can use material downloaded from the Internet to a personal computer, they’ve enabled amateur broadcasters to distribute music programs directly to consumers without the expense of traditional radio broadcasting.

It didn’t take long for people in the news media to recognize that spoken-word recordings could be distributed the same way. So, media outlets soon began offering consumers downloadable news programs, and academic institutions followed suit. In July 2005, UF became Florida’s first state university to provide downloadable audio versions of news releases and other information.

The practice of offering digital sound recordings via the Internet has become known as podcasting, a play on words that combines the terms “broadcasting” and “iPod.” The recordings themselves are called podcasts.

How Does Podcasting Work?

Fundamentally, podcasting is just a way to transfer computer files, using RSS. Many people associate RSS only with the printed word, but actually it can be used to distribute audio and even video material.

Providers create podcasts by converting audio material into computer files, typically in the MP3 format. Then they set up a Web site and use RSS to automatically distribute these files to consumers who request them. Most providers make new podcasts available on a regular basis, and the never-ending stream of new material is known as a feed.

Consumers obtain podcasts by using personal computers to download the MP3 files. Typically, consumers don’t download the files one at a time. Instead, they subscribe to feeds and automatically receive the new material as it becomes available.

People using personal computers can simply subscribe to feeds and listen to new podcasts at their convenience. To hear podcasts on portable digital music players, consumers need to download the MP3 files on a personal computer first and then transfer them to the music player.

Can I Use Podcasting?

Absolutely. You don’t need an iPod, either – all it takes is an Internet-equipped computer with speakers and music-playing software, plus another software program called a podcast application, which automatically detects and downloads MP3 files from the feeds you subscribe to. Some podcast applications are available free online (see “Campus Podcasts” below), others are available for a nominal charge. Many podcasts are free, though some are available only to consumers who pay for packages of computer services.

Subscribing to podcasts is easy – check the Web sites of your favorite online news sources and look for an orange rectangle labeled “POD” or some other icon with a description mentioning podcasting. When you click on the icon, you should open a page with Web addresses for one or more podcast feeds. After you select the feed(s) you want, paste or type the Web address(es) into your podcast application’s “add feed” feature.

You’ll also need a place to store the files you receive from feeds. Your computer’s music-playing software may automatically create a folder where these files are stored, or you may need to create one.

Once you’re receiving material from feeds, you may need to pick and choose which files you want to hear, moving them to a storage folder. From there, you’ll use your computer’s music-playing software to listen to the material.

As with print-news RSS feeds, you should be able to delete unwanted files, or set your podcast application to automatically delete files after a specific amount of time.

Campus Podcasts

Currently, there are two podcasts carrying UF/IFAS material. The first is a campuswide podcast from the UF News Bureau, found at the bureau’s audio page, http://news.ufl.edu/listen.

In an average week, the bureau issues two audio pieces. The first is a campus update spotlighting events for the week. The second, a story or interview about UF scientific research, including UF/IFAS studies. Past audio stories have spotlighted low-carb potatoes and antioxidants found in peanuts.

New subscribers to the bureau’s podcast will receive a “starter package” of current stories plus material dating back to late December 2005. Earlier audio stories are available for download as MP3 files by visiting the site’s audio archives, http://news.ufl.edu/audio/.

And if you need a podcast application, the bureau’s audio page offers four.

The other campus podcast spotlighting UF/IFAS comes from “Family Album Radio,” the nation’s premier research-based radio series on family life. The series’ Web site offers a feed that delivers five two-minute programs per week, drawing from a library of more than 300 past episodes.

The “Family Album Radio” podcast is found at http://www.familyalbumradio.org/podcast.html, along with links to four free podcast applications and detailed instructions on installing two of them.

What’s more, the entire series of “Family Album Radio” can be found on Radio Source.net, the Internet source for news and information audio archives from U.S. land-grant universities. The site offers individual episodes in both MP3 and .WAV formats as well as scripts in Word format for most of the recordings. Users can simply visit http://radiosource.net and run a search under “keyword” for “Family Album Radio.”

Keep an eye out for information on future UF/IFAS podcasts here at “INSIDE IFAS,” and if we’ve missed a current one, please let us know.

NEW ARRIVALS AT UF/IFAS

Jennifer Hitchcock Named Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Volusia County

Jennifer Hitchcock has been named residential horticulture agent for the Volusia County Extension Service. Her appointment became effective Dec. 22, 2005.

Her duties will include assisting local residents with home landscaping and gardening issues, including plant selection, planting times, fertilization and pest management.

Before being appointed to this position, Hitchcock served as an urban horticulture extension agent in Orange County, Fla., from 2000 to 2005. Her specialties include volunteer development and environmental education with youth. She has a Florida volunteer management certification.

Hitchcock holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental horticulture from the University of Florida.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

March Madness Peanut Sale

The Agronomy-Soils Club is selling peanuts to raise funds for student scholarships and club functions – 12 oz. cans of salted or honey roasted peanuts are $3 each or two for $5, and a case is $25. If you’d like to make a purchase, stop by McCarty A, Room G197 on Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

For more information or to make an appointment to buy peanuts at other times, contact Julie at 392-6358 or julie710@ufl.edu.

Family EarthFest in Largo

Tampa Bay area residents are invited to attend Family EarthFest on Saturday, April 8 at Pinewood Cultural Park in Largo. The free, all-day event celebrates Earth Day and U.S. Arbor Day, and features kids’ activities, games, crafts, theatre, music, food and more.

For more information, visit the Pinellas County events calendar at http://www.pinellascounty.org/Events_newsrel.htm#HVEarthFest and scroll down to April 8.

Citrus Short Course

A full-day short course, “Living and Artificial Windbreaks for Citrus,” will be held April 19 at the Citrus REC in Lake Alfred. The program includes presentations on plants, designs and management of living windbreaks, and also discussions of materials, designs and costs for artificial windbreaks. Registration is required.

For further details and registration information, visit the Citrus REC Web site, http://www.crec.ifas.ufl.edu.

Extension Technology Conference

The National Extension Technology Conference, NETC 2006, will be held May 8-11 at the UF Hilton Conference Center in Gainesville. The event focuses on the application of information technology in the Cooperative Extension System; this year’s theme is “Enhancing Teamwork with Technology.”

For detailed information and to register for NETC 2006, visit the conference Web site at http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/NETC2006.

Tropical Fruit Course

This summer, Jonathan Crane (Tropical REC) will teach Tropical Fruit Production and Research, a graduate-level class open to students, scientists, extension faculty and industry professionals. Taught at the Tropical REC campus in Homestead, the class will focus on practical information concerning commercial crops grown throughout the subtropics and tropics.

For more information, visit Crane’s Web site at http://crane.ifas.ufl.edu/teaching.htm.

PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS

Duryea Named Associate Dean for Research

In December, Mary Duryea (School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Reforestation and Urban Forestry) was named an associate dean for research by Mark McLellan, dean for research.

Duryea’s assignment will focus on natural resource systems. She was the first of three associate deans appointed by McLellan to help strengthen interdisciplinary efforts in UF/IFAS.

No stranger to administrative duties, Duryea was previously appointed interim assistant dean for research by Richard L. Jones, dean emeritus for research, in February 2001. She was subsequently named assistant dean for research and held that position until December 2005.

Duryea also leads the UF/IFAS initiative for BioEnergy, seeking funding and infrastructure for faculty committed to energy research and outreach associated with agriculture and natural resources.

Turner Appointed Interim Associate Dean of CALS

In January, Elaine Turner (Food Science and Human Nutrition Department) was appointed interim associate dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

Turner was named to the position by Kirby Barrick, dean of the college, on the recommendation of other UF/IFAS faculty. A nationally recognized teacher, Turner is an associate professor and former undergraduate coordinator for her department.

As interim associate dean, she will implement the college’s policies in undergraduate and graduate programs, plan events, counsel students and assist undergraduate and graduate coordinators in all CALS departments.

“What I find most appealing about this position is that I have a chance to serve the college in a broader role than I do as a faculty member,” Turner said.

Gmitter Selected to Lead Citrus Genome Effort

Fred Gmitter (Citrus REC) has been named chairman of the International Citrus Genome Consortium, a worldwide group of researchers and citrus industry personnel investigating the genetic structure of citrus.

Gmitter was chosen for the position Jan. 14 at the consortium’s annual meeting in San Diego, Calif. During his three-year term of office, Gmitter will be responsible for overseeing the consortium’s steering committee, fostering communication and collaboration among members, and serving as the consortium’s spokesman.

Established in 2003, the consortium aims to coordinate a full genome sequencing effort for citrus, support research on important genes and ultimately develop new strategies for improving citrus trees and fruit. Its members represent research groups in the United States, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Spain.

DeSoto 4-H Hosts Annual Livestock Prospect Show

In December, the 7th Annual DeSoto County 4-H Prospect Show helped Florida youth improve their livestock showing skills and offered them a chance to prepare for county and regional fairs. The event, held at the Turner Agri-Civic Center Barns in Arcadia, included classes on showmanship and one-on-one evaluations with livestock judges.

Sportsmanship, leadership and evaluation skills were also emphasized at the event, which drew about 60 youth, showing 48 steers and 30 heifers. Attendance was open to all Florida 4-H and FFA members; the participants represented Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Manatee and Polk Counties.

Volunteers Aid Lee County Oyster Restoration

Usually, bucket brigades put out fires. But in November, 65 volunteers formed a bucket brigade in Lee County to place six tons of fossil oyster shells in the Caloosahatchee River, as part of an effort to create oyster bars.

The project, organized by Lee County Marine Extension Agent Bob Wasno, provided new habitat for tiny, free-swimming oyster larvae to settle down and grow into adults. Once established, the larvae form oyster bars, which help purify water and provide habitat for other marine life.

The volunteers transported 400 bags weighing 30 pounds each, placing the shells at three locations in the river. To date, restoration projects by the Lee County Extension Office have placed 25 tons of oyster shells.

Charlotte County Extension Hosts Athletic Turf Workshop

If the athletic fields around Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda look better than ever this spring, thank the Charlotte County Extension Office, which hosted a countywide Athletic Field Turf Workshop on Nov. 29 at the County Sports Complex.

At the all-day event, UF turf expert Bryan Unruh (West Florida REC – Milton) worked with 19 participants representing county, municipal and private audiences. Topics covered at the event included turfgrass selection, field fertility, field cultivation, pest management and field safety considerations.

Ag Ed Faculty, Grad Students Win at SAAS Conference

Faculty members and graduate students in the Agricultural Education and Communication Department took home numerous honors from the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS) annual conference, which took place Feb. 4-8 in Orlando.

The conference was held in conjunction with the southern region meetings of the American Association for Agricultural Education (AAAE), the Association of Communication Excellence (ACE) and the Southern Rural Sociology Association (SRSA).

At the event, Jim Dyer (Agricultural Education and Communication Department) was elected AAAE Southern region vice president for 2006-2008, and Mark Kistler (Agricultural Education and Communication Department) was elected to the AAAE research committee.

Nick Place (Agricultural Education and Communication Department) received the AAAE Outstanding Young Member Award for the Southern region, and Glenn Israel (Agricultural Education and Communication Department) received the SRSA Award for Excellence in Research.

Several faculty and graduate students in the department also received awards for outstanding research paper and poster presentations, as follows:

ACE Outstanding Paper Presentation

“Evaluating Genetically Modified Food Labels: A Focus Group Study”

Courtney Meyers, University of Florida and Jefferson D. Miller, University of Arkansas

ACE Outstanding Graduate Paper Presentation

“Evaluating Genetically Modified Food Labels: A Focus Group Study”

Courtney Meyers, University of Florida and Jefferson D. Miller, University of Arkansas

ACE Graduate Paper Presentation Runner-Up

“Bridging Borders: Organizing Short-Term Agricultural Communication Study Abroad Programs”

Emily Rhoades, Roslynn Brain, Ricky Telg (Agricultural Education and Communication Department), Tracy Irani (Agricultural Education and Communication Department), University of Florida and Owen Roberts, University of Guelph

AAAE Outstanding Poster

“Real Experiences, Real Learning: Using Clients to Teach Communication Skills”

Emily Rhoades and Courtney Meyers

AAAE Outstanding Graduate Student Research Paper

“Leadership Expectations of County Farm Bureau Board Members”

Hannah Carter (Agricultural Education and Communication Department) and Rick Rudd (Agricultural Education and Communication Department)

Brown Named Outstanding Educator for Dietetic Internship

The American Dietetic Association has named Susan Brown (Food Science and Human Nutrition Department) recipient of an Outstanding Dietetics Educator Award. She was honored in the dietetic internship program category for ADA Area III, which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico and South Carolina.

The award will be presented at the Florida Dietetic Association annual meeting in Orlando, July 9-12.

Brown was one of seven awardees in the dietetic internship program category, each one selected from a different ADA area. The Outstanding Dietetics Educator Awards recognize the teaching, mentoring and leadership activities of faculty and preceptors in dietetics education programs.

A part-time clinical instructor in the UF Master of Science-Dietetic Internship Program, Brown was nominated for the award by Internship Director Gail Kauwell (Food Science and Human Nutrition Department). Brown is perhaps best known for her contributions to the department’s efforts to train pediatric dietitians.

Gulf Citrus BMP Program Unveiled

Southwest Florida citrus growers got their first look at the new BMP manual, Best Management Practices for Gulf Citrus, Feb. 1 during a celebration held at Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc. near LaBelle.

Designed for citrus operations in Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee Counties, the manual will help producers protect and improve water quality in Southwest Florida. Nearly two years in the making, the manual was a collaborative effort involving experts from UF/IFAS, the Gulf Citrus Growers Association, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and other agencies.

At the event, attendees heard from speakers including Charles Bronson, state commissioner of agriculture, and several area elected officials.

Pinellas 4-H Plants Trees for Florida Arbor Day

Though the national Arbor Day observance is the last Friday of April, every U.S. state designates its own arbor day, based on local growing conditions favorable to planting trees.

Florida and Louisiana have the earliest arbor days of the year, both of them falling on the third Friday in January. So on Jan. 21, Pinellas County Extension 4-H celebrated the holiday by planting 15 trees at the Ochs 4-H Educational Center in Largo.

4-H members and volunteers helped plant the trees, which included longleaf pine, pignut hickory and live oak. The trees will provide new wildlife habitat in a restoration area at the Ochs property. The state Division of Forestry provided funding for the project.

Pinellas County Extension also has plans to celebrate U.S. Arbor Day. A corporate partner will plant and dedicate a tree at the Florida Botanical Gardens, adjacent to the office, on Friday, April 28. The next day, the gardens will host a tree giveaway featuring expert planting and tree-care advice from extension faculty.

Pinellas Extension Hosts Ikebana Event

In January, the Pinellas County Extension office took on a new and beautiful look, as it hosted a month-long display of ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging.

The highlight took place the weekend of Jan. 21-22, as the St. Petersburg chapter of Ikebana International held its 44th exhibition in the building. At the event, more than 90 arrangements were displayed, and visitors had the opportunity to sign up for classes and workshops on the popular art.

Throughout the month, the office displayed floral arrangements, as well as books and posters on ikebana. With a history dating back to the 6th century, ikebana emphasizes harmony between the vase, stems, leaves and branches used, as well as the blossoms.