Tag Archives: IFAS

Just a few years ago, there were 20-30 dairy farms scattered across Lafayette County. Today, after steep declines in milk consumption have left many of these farms bankrupt, only about six remain.

From 1996 to 2016, Gainesville had lost 11 percent of its tree canopy. But green spaces like Cellon Oak Park, home to Florida's largest live oak, help keep biodiversity alive in the city.

The City of Gainesville passed a plastic ban earlier this year. Some local scientists see this ordinance as a good first step, but don't think it goes far enough. Here are their proposals:

Florida's blueberry industry yielded more than $200 million in 2017. The industry, however, has faced a multitude of setbacks from disease and extreme weather.

While festive looking, the ornamental plant coral ardisia, also known as the Christmas berry, is an invasive plant species spreading across Florida and into the South. Volunteers are now trying to control the spread before it becomes a full-blown outbreak.

County officials within the past month approached the property owner, Beazer East, about the idea of leasing or selling the 86-acre parcel just north of NW 23rd Avenue.

Local businesses provided donations to fund the project, which required over 208 wooden boards and roughly $2,000 in materials.