Inside IFAS November 2005

Happy Holidays, and welcome to the November issue of the “INSIDE IFAS” faculty and staff newsletter. In case you’ve missed any of our previous online issues, they are available on the “INSIDE IFAS” archives Web site at http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/inside_ifas/index.htm.

This issue marks the debut of another new feature, an announcements section. Because so many UF/IFAS seminars, training programs, awards ceremonies and other events take place each month, we thought it made sense to use each issue of “INSIDE IFAS” as a forum to publicize events scheduled to take place in the next few weeks. Please send announcements to insideifas@ifas.ufl.edu.

As always, we need your help to make this newsletter the voice of UF/IFAS 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

11.22.2005 Four Graduates of UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Honored for Outstanding Contributions

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/archstory.php?id=481

11.21.2005 E.T. York Recognized With New Plaque at UF’s McCarty Hall

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/archstory.php?id=480

11.21.2005 Emilio Bruna Receives UF International Educator of the Year Award

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/archstory.php?id=479

11.08.2005 Louis “Red” Larson, Dairy Industry Leader, Honored by $1.5 Million Endowment at UF

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/archstory.php?id=477

11.04.2005 Richard Raid Receives State Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/archstory.php?id=476

10.27.2005 New Wetlands Ecological Research Aviary Will Measure Mercury Impact on Wildlife

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/archstory.php?id=471

10.11.2005 $6 Million NSF Grant Supports UF Genetic Research on Loblolly Pine

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/archstory.php?id=465

10.06.2005 Orkin Termite Training Facility to Be Constructed at UF’s Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/archstory.php?id=464

10.04.2005 New University of Florida Program Helps Developers Build Environmentally Friendly Communities

http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/archstory.php?id=463

FEATURES

UF Grand Guard Welcomes 10 New Members from CALS

Ten members of the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences’ class of 1955 were recently inducted into the UF Grand Guard, a society of alumni who have marked at least 50 years since graduation.

The event took place during Grand Guard Reunion 2005, a campuswide event held Nov. 3-5. The new inductees were joined by 10 CALS and three School of Forest Resources and Conservation alumni from previous graduating classes, ranging from 1936 to 1954.

This year’s CALS Grand Guard inductees were: Bruce Christmas, Jerry DeCubellis, Herb Dunlap, Fred Harden, Pete Howell, Tonquin Gaines LaGrone, George Lambeth, Drane Smith, Wayne Van Netta and Bob Woodward.

Highlights of the weekend included luncheon/college showcase events held Friday, Nov. 4. The CALS event, attended by 30 participants, included a tour of the packaging science facilities and a talk given by a CALS ambassador about what it’s like to be a CALS student in 2005. The SFRC event, attended by six participants, included a trip to the Austin Carey Memorial Forest northeast of Gainesville.

Other Grand Guard activities included an archive display, campus tour, receptions, meals, memories and the Florida-Vanderbilt football game.

Inductee Bruce Christmas said the weekend was a memorable one.

“I had a chance to visit with a couple of my classmates, Bob Woodward and Drane Smith. I also saw several other friends from the past, some of whom I had not seen during the 50-year period,” Christmas said. “I was very thankful to have the opportunity to reach this milestone and am hopeful that I might experience many more.”

Vendrame Explores Potential Orchid Markets in South Africa

In August, Wagner Vendrame (Tropical REC) traveled to South Africa with representatives of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to investigate potential export markets for Florida ornamental plants, particularly orchids.

The weeklong trip focused on meetings with South African ornamental growers, who were eager to learn about new plants that could be commercially produced in their country. Tentative plans were made to bring South African growers to Florida in 2006 to attend major trade shows.

“We learned new information regarding ornamental production in South Africa and established good connections,” Vendrame said. “These steps could lead us to future collaborative efforts for exchanging research information and establishing cooperative research projects.”

South Africa’s ornamental industry is growing quickly, and the country’s overall economy is improving, he said.

Vendrame was the only academic in the group, and was selected for his expertise in orchid production and general horticulture. The itinerary included stops at 11 destinations in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Nelspruit and Pretoria.

The trip was sponsored by the Southern United States Trade Association, a nonprofit agricultural export trade development association comprised of the departments of agriculture in 15 Southern states and Puerto Rico.

Cantliffe, Jacobson Named 2005 UF/IFAS International Fellows

Dan Cantliffe (Horticultural Sciences Department) and Susan Jacobson (Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department) were recently named the 2005 UF/IFAS International Fellows.

The award honors sustained contributions to internationalization in the areas of research, teaching and service. Formal presentation of the award will be made in April 2006; Cantliffe and Jacobson will each receive a plaque and an honorarium of $1,000 funded through the Office of the Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Cantliffe is perhaps best known for his research on protected agriculture, using self-contained systems to achieve sustainable production of high-value fruit and vegetable crops. His work has benefited numerous nations in North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Far East, and he has developed formal collaborative relationships with institutions in Brazil, Israel, Italy and Korea.

He is the chairman of the vegetable section of the International Society for Horticultural Science, and recently conducted an international symposium on protected agriculture for the society. He has trained more than 50 graduate students from various nations.

Jacobson’s pioneering research focuses on the human dimensions of wildlife conservation. Her work assesses the effective use of communications and public participation to address resource management challenges. Jacobson’s current graduate students are working in East Africa, Central America and the Bahamas to develop and evaluate models for effective resource management and conservation outreach efforts.

As director of the Program for Studies in Tropical Conservation, Jacobson has garnered more than one million dollars in support for international graduate student training and research in tropical countries.

The UF/IFAS International Fellow award, established in 2004 by the UF/IFAS International Programs Advisory Team, is presented to two faculty members each year. The inaugural winners were Jim Jones (Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department) P.K. Nair (School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Agroforestry/International Forestry).

Overholt, Cuda Seek New Hydrilla Biocontrol Organisms

To help fight hydrilla, Florida’s top invasive aquatic weed, Bill Overholt (Indian River REC) and Jim Cuda (Entomology and Nematology Department) recently traveled to the weed’s home turf seeking insects that may provide effective biocontrol.

In September, the researchers visited the East African nations of Burundi, Kenya and Uganda, searching for hydrilla populations that might contain natural enemies that feed on the weed or otherwise disrupt its growth. Near Burundi’s capital city, Bujumbura, they collected several species of weevils and midges that were brought back to Florida for identification by specialists.

While in Africa, Overholt and Cuda also visited institutions in all three countries and made contact with scientists in hopes of establishing ongoing collaborative work.

New weapons are badly needed in the war on hydrilla, Cuda said. Until recently, the herbicide fluridone was widely used to manage the weed. But a fluridone-resistant strain of hydrilla has appeared in Florida, prompting new interest in classical biological control.

Hydrilla was introduced to the United States in the 1950s, near Tampa, Fla. Today, it clogs waterways throughout the Southeast and has spread west to the Pacific coast. Florida alone spends $20 million per year on hydrilla management.

INFORM

RSS Offers New Way to Receive News

RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, is a new tool to help consumers access print news via the Internet. For UF/IFAS personnel who need to monitor current events, it can be a great resource. In just a few years, RSS has become so popular that most online news sources now offer it as a feature on their Web sites.

But RSS is so new that many people aren’t sure what it is, how it works or if they can use it. We’ll try to address those questions.

What Is RSS?

Technically, RSS is a type of electronic file format. But for the average consumer, it’s enough to know RSS is a way to link your computer to Web sites to pick up bulletins concerning recently added news stories.

How Does RSS Work?

Online news sources update their Web sites all the time. RSS is an electronic “drop box” where the site’s Web masters place bulletins concerning the latest material they’ve added. Then consumers, known as subscribers, use their computers to retrieve the bulletins.

These bulletins sometimes provide complete news stories, or they may contain just a sentence or two, plus a link to the complete story. Each day, a Web site may produce dozens or even hundreds of RSS bulletins. Collectively, these bulletins are called a “feed.” Subscribers don’t have to ask for bulletins one at a time; they just subscribe to the feed and gain access to all new bulletins as they become available.

Can I Use RSS?

Sure. All you need to get started as an RSS subscriber is an Internet-equipped computer and a software program called an RSS reader. Some RSS readers are available free online, others cost a nominal amount. The feeds themselves are free, incidentally.

Subscribing to feeds is easy – just check the Web sites of your favorite online news sources for an orange rectangle labeled “RSS” or “XML” or some other icon with a description mentioning RSS. The icon should point to the Web address for the site’s RSS feed. You paste or type the Web address into your RSS reader’s “add feed” feature. The news source may ask you to specify whether you want to receive all their RSS material, or just material on specific topics.

You’ll also need to have a place to store the feed material your computer retrieves. Some RSS readers set up default storage folders; with other programs you’ll need to set up a folder.

Once you’re up and running, your computer desktop will have an icon labeled “RSS reader” or something similar. Click it, and you’ll see a list of recent bulletins from one of your feeds – the list looks quite a bit like an e-mail “in box.” Your RSS reader will contain a number of features to help you organize and manage the bulletins – again, much like the controls on an e-mail program.

You’ll see other similarities to e-mail when you read RSS bulletins. You click on bulletins to read them, archive the material you want to keep and delete the material you don’t. It takes a little getting used to, but you’ll probably catch on fast.

The only downside to RSS is that it can be overwhelming if you subscribe to too many feeds, or let too much material pile up. But both problems can be remedied easily. If you have too many feeds, you can unsubscribe to the less interesting ones with a couple of mouse clicks. And most RSS readers include a feature that eliminates material after a specific amount of time, which can be adjusted by the subscriber.

The next step in RSS technology is the RSS search engine, which looks for specific content on multiple feeds. Several of these search engines are currently available.

Campus RSS Feeds

When it comes to providing RSS feeds, UF/IFAS is already in the game. Our news program’s Web site – http://news.ifas.ufl.edu – includes an RSS feed that provides all news releases and stand-alone photos issued by the External and Media Relations Office. New subscribers to our RSS feed automatically receive a “starter package” of material dating back to February 2005, plus all future material.

For those interested in what’s happening campuswide, the UF News Bureau offers a very active RSS feed that includes material from UF/IFAS and every other major program at UF. Besides print news releases, the UF feed provides announcements about campus activities, and audio pieces similar to radio interviews. It can be accessed at http://news.ufl.edu.

In next month’s “INFORM” we’ll take a closer look at the audio version of RSS, commonly known as podcasting. See you then!

NEW ARRIVALS AT UF/IFAS

Mary Campbell Named Pinellas County Extension Director

Mary Campbell has been named director of the Pinellas County Extension Service. Her appointment became effective Aug. 1.

Before being named to this position, Campbell served as manager of park operations for St. Petersburg, where she supervised the city’s nature parks, botanical garden and horticultural operations.

Campbell holds a master’s degree in horticultural science from UF

Cody Gray Named Assistant Professor at Fort Lauderdale REC

Cody Gray has been named an assistant professor of aquatic and wetland plant management at Fort Lauderdale REC. His appointment became effective Aug. 1.

At the center, Gray will conduct research on invasive weed control in aquatic and wetland areas and serve as an extension faculty member. He will teach courses in weed management and aquatic plant identification and ecology.

Before being appointed to this position, Gray was a research associate with the department of plant and soil sciences at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Miss. He is an expert in remote sensing and GIS/GPS technologies, which are methods that identify crop plants and weeds by analyzing light reflected from their leaves.

Gray holds a doctoral degree in weed science from Mississippi State University.

Cortney Ohs Named Assistant Professor at Indian River REC

Cortney Ohs has been named an assistant professor of fisheries and aquatic sciences at Indian River REC. His appointment became effective July 18.

At the center, he will conduct research and develop extension programs on aquaculture.

Before being appointed to this position, Ohs was an assistant scientist at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill., where he was the statewide contact for aquaculture outreach. Prior to that, he was a research associate at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Miss., where he conducted research to evaluate new management practices for existing aquaculture operations and evaluate the potential of culturing new species.

Ohs holds a doctoral degree in wildlife and fisheries science from Mississippi State University.

Ray Rafie Named Agricultural Development Agent for Miami-Dade County

Ray Rafie has been named agricultural development agent for the Miami-Dade County Extension Service. His appointment became effective Aug. 12.

Rafie will work on developing new and niche agricultural market opportunities for growers in South Florida.

Before being appointed to this position, Rafie worked in Honduras for 16 years and helped Honduran growers develop export markets in the United States and Europe. He has extension experience in production, postharvest handling and marketing of tropical fruits and vegetables.

Rafie holds a doctoral degree in crop science from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Alan Wright Named Assistant Professor at Everglades REC

Alan Wright has been named an assistant professor of soil and water science at Everglades REC. His appointment became effective Aug. 26.

At the center, Wright will conduct research and serve as liaison with the local agricultural community and state and federal agencies on soil and water issues involved with the Everglades restoration.

Before being appointed to this position, Wright was a postdoctoral researcher in soil science at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

Wright holds a doctoral degree in soil and water science from UF.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ice Cream Retailing Seminar

The Successful Ice Cream Retailing Seminar, designed for small-business operators who want to start their own retail ice cream business or improve their existing business, will be held Jan 12-16, 2006 in Gainesville. It marks the first time UF has hosted the event, now in its 19th year.

For more information, see the UF/IFAS news release at http://www.news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.php?id=473

Advanced Master Tree Farmer Program

The 2006 Advanced Master Tree Farmer – Level II satellite shortcourse will be offered Feb. 7-March 21. The course is designed for landowners, extension agents and others who have participated in the Master Tree Farmer basic course or who have a working knowledge of basic forest management concepts.

For more information, see the UF/IFAS news release at http://www.news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.php?id=475

Holiday Citrus Sale

The Gator Citrus Club’s annual citrus sale is under way, offering navel oranges and grapefruits. The sale raises funds for an educational trip abroad for students. Fruit will be available for pickup Dec. 7-9 at Fifield Hall.

Further information and order forms are available at http://www.hos.ufl.edu/citrusclub/

Florida Bay Science Conference

The 2005 Florida Bay and Adjacent Marine Systems Science Conference will be held Dec. 11-14 at the Hawk’s Cay Resort in Duck Key, Fla. The conference’s objective is to increase our understanding of the relationships between Florida Bay and nearby ecosystems, with a focus on restoration.

For more information, visit the conference Web site at http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/floridabay/

Deep-Sea Corals Symposium

The Third International Symposium on Deep-Sea Corals Science and Management will take place Nov. 28-Dec. 2 at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science in Miami, Fla. The symposium will facilitate global exchange of current scientific knowledge of deep-sea corals and associated fauna.

For more information, visit the symposium Web site at http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/coral/

“Creatures of the Night” Nature Event Rescheduled

“Creatures of the Night,” a nighttime nature walk at Adams Ranch in St. Lucie County, has been rescheduled to Dec. 9. Originally set for Oct. 19, the event was delayed by weather-related issues. The rescheduled event will not incorporate a Halloween theme, but will still give participants a chance to search for bats with the help of high-tech equipment. Other nocturnal animals, such as frogs and insects, will be featured as well.

For more information, see the flyer available online at http://kgioeli.ifas.ufl.edu/batdetectingdec05.pdf

Holiday Toy Drive for Military Families

Help make the holiday season brighter for children in military families by supporting “Fill a Tank with Toys,” a project by 4-H Operation Military Kids to collect enough toy donations to fill a real Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The project welcomes donations of any new, unwrapped toys; items are needed for children in every age group.

For more information, see the news release available online at www.pinellascounty.org/newsrel.htm#tank

PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS

O’Connor Receives ASA Research Award

Soil chemistry expert George O’Connor (Soil and Water Science Department) received the 2005 Environmental Quality Research Award from the American Society of Agronomy at its annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah Nov. 6-10.

The award recognizes O’Connor for producing original and significant research and for possessing an outstanding ability to inspire students and others. His research focuses on the application of basic soil chemistry to guide responsible and beneficial use of nonhazardous wastes on soils.

He is perhaps best known for studies showing how specific chemicals associated with biosolids – including heavy metals, trace elements, organic chemicals and nutrients – move in soil, and how their movement can be controlled.

A professor of environmental soil chemistry, O’Connor earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, and master’s and doctoral degrees from Colorado State University. He joined the UF/IFAS faculty in 1990.

Spranger Elected to Two GCOOS-RA Posts

Michael Spranger (Sea Grant Extension) has been elected to two leadership positions in the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System Regional Association, or GCOOS-RA, part of a project to coordinate and enhance scientific observation in the Gulf of Mexico.

The project’s goal is to network numerous government, university and research facilities that gather scientific data in and around the Gulf of Mexico on atmospheric, oceanographic, biological and geological topics. This is part of a national and international effort to integrate all ocean observing systems. Currently, 140 countries are involved in the effort.

In August, Spranger was elected to the GCOOS-RA board of directors and executive committee as a representative of the academic and education sector.

The board provides leadership for the regional association by providing policy guidance, ensuring sustained support, and approving plans to help develop GCOOS-RA.

GCOOS-RA is one of seven regional associations formed as part of a national and international system of marine observations, data management, modeling and delivery of data.

Spranger is also a member of the Southeast Atlantic Ocean Observing System Work Group, a similar regional effort developing education and extension activities on the U.S. Eastern seaboard.

Nair Receives Fulbright Senior Specialist Award

The Fulbright Scholar Program has granted P.K. Nair (School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Agroforestry/International Forestry) a Senior Specialist Award in Environmental Sciences, which will support short-term academic work at foreign institutions for five years.

The award is part of the Fulbright Senior Specialists Program, which promotes international academic collaboration by enabling non-U.S. institutions to request visits by specific U.S. scholars.

Nair’s first activity supported by the award was a two-week trip to Northwestern Spain, requested by the University of Santiago de Compostela in the city of Santiago de Compostela. He was accompanied by his wife, Vimala Nair (Soil and Water Science Department), who was invited by the university to discuss her research in environmental chemistry.

P.K. Nair presented five lectures and visited four university campuses during the trip, which took place Oct. 1-15. He also made several field trips to observe traditional agroforestry and silvopasture practices in the area.

One highlight, he said, was the chance to observe the dehesa system, a low-intensity grazing system in which livestock such as swine or cattle are raised in tandem with trees, often the species of oak tree used to produce cork.

North Florida REC Hosts Ag Adventure Day for Jackson County Youth

Two hundred Jackson County fifth-graders got an up-close look at the many ways agriculture impacts their lives, and had a great time doing it, thanks to the 5th Annual 4-H Ag Adventure Day, held at the North Florida REC – Marianna Oct. 7.

Presented by Jackson County Extension Service and the Florida Agriculture in the Classroom program, the event taught students about forestry, cotton, peanuts, beef and nutrition. Local agricultural products received special emphasis.

Ag Adventure Day serves a second purpose: reconnecting urban and suburban youngsters with their community’s agricultural heritage, said Ann Blount (North Florida REC – Marianna). The event was held during National 4-H Week, Oct. 2-8.

North Florida REC Presents First Young Scientist Award

Walton Senior High School student Matthew Richardson was honored recently with the North Florida REC’s first-ever Young Scientist Award, in recognition of his outstanding record of achievement in middle-school and high-school science fairs.

The award was presented by Richardson’s mentor, nematologist Jim Rich (North Florida REC – Quincy), at the center’s Annual Peanut Field Day in August.

In six years of competition, Richardson won 15 first-place awards in local, regional and state science fairs. In 2004 he won first runner-up honors in the botany division of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, which attracts more than 1,000 competitors from around the world each year.

Richardson’s mother, Sharon, is a middle school science teacher and his father, Donnie, is a cotton and peanut farmer. The family resides on a farm near DeFuniak Springs.

McGuire Honored by Marine Educators, Extension Professionals

The Florida Marine Science Educators Association recently honored Maia McGuire (Sea Grant Extension) with its 2005 John Beakley Marine Educator Award. The award, presented at the association’s annual meeting in St. Augustine in April, recognizes an educator who has demonstrated dedication to promoting and developing marine science in Florida.

McGuire, who serves the Northeast Florida Extension District, was also recognized by the Extension Professional Associations of Florida. In September, the organization presented her with the Sadler Distinguished Extension Professional and Enhancement Award at its annual meeting in Sarasota.

Council for Sustainable Florida Visits Sarasota Extension Offices

Members of the Council for Sustainable Florida stopped by the Sarasota County Extension Service in October, while visiting the area to see recent accomplishments in sustainability.

The group toured the extension “green” office building, which has received U.S. Building Coalition LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold certification as an efficient and environmentally friendly structure.

Sarasota County Extension Director Carolyn Gregov said she hopes to partner with the Council for Sustainable Florida and neighboring Gulf Coast counties to promote regional sustainability.

Established in 1990 by the Florida legislature, the Council for Sustainable Florida is a unique collaboration of business, government, higher education and citizen leaders committed to improving Florida’s economy and environment.

Nighttime Nature Events Educate, Entertain Families

Looks like Central Florida has a new Halloween tradition in the making – nighttime nature events that enable families to learn about local wildlife while enjoying the season.

In Pinellas County, an Owl and Bat Prowl was held Oct. 15 at the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo. Wildlife biologist Jeanne Murphy helped visitors identify sounds such as screech owl coos and bat clicks. Located on 182 acres, the botanical gardens incorporate both Florida native plants and exotic tropicals, and provide a haven for wildlife.

The event was organized by the Pinellas County Extension Service, which is actually located on the grounds of the botanical gardens. Pinellas County owns and operates the Florida Botanical Gardens, and the county extension service works in partnership with botanical gardens personnel to provide educational programming and other services involving the facility.

In St. Lucie County, a similar event was scheduled for Oct. 19 at Adams Ranch but was postponed due to weather-related issues. (Please see this issue’s “announcements” section for information about the rescheduled event, set for Dec. 9.)

LINKS TO OTHER UF/IFAS NEWSLETTERS

Agricultural & Biological Engineering Department Newsletter

http://www.agen.ufl.edu/newsite/mainpages/Newsletter/NewsletterSpring05.pdf

Animal Science Newsletter

http://www.animal.ufl.edu/extension/beef/content/newsletter/Nov2005/Nov2005.pdf

Berry/Vegetable Times

http://strawberry.ifas.ufl.edu/BerryTimes/BVTNov05.html

CALS Alumni and Friends

http://www.cals.ufl.edu/alumni/newsletter/nov05.htm

CALS Connection

http://cals.ufl.edu/documents/connection/2005.pdf

Chemically Speaking