UF IFAS Extension Hardee County

09/02/2026

09/01/2026

𝐀𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫:
𝐅𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭
•Apply last fertilizer feeding for the year
𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬/𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬
•Finish up any warm season plantings such as basil, tomatoes
and peppers
•You can now start planting cool season veggies and herbs
such as garlic, oregano, broccoli, and lettuce
•𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐟 (𝐒𝐭. 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬)
•Bahia stops producing new growth – fill patches with plugs
or sod
•Keep mowing (when it’s dry!) and leave clippings
•Mow height/frequency
•Bahiagrass: 3”- 4” every 7-17 days
•St. Augustine: 3”- 4” every 5-14 days
•𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐁𝐮𝐠𝐬, 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥
𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞
𝐒𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐛𝐬
•Prepare soil for planting (still too warm)
•Test pH
•(If needed) Add organic matter such as compost,
composted manure or coconut coir
•Seasonal pruning
•𝐀𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐬, 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐟 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬
𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞
𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 & 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐬
•Remove w**ds and other plants from around base of tree,
𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 use w**d trimmers
•𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞

08/24/2026

The UF/IFAS South Florida Beef-Forage Program invites cattle producers to participate in an educational program focused on selecting and managing herd bulls for improved profitability and reproductive success. This collaborative program is presented in conjunction with UF/IFAS Extension agents, state specialists, and experienced cattle producers, providing participants with practical, research-based information and real-world perspectives.

Program Topics Include:

Bull Selection Do's and Don'ts – Learn proven practices for selecting herd sires while avoiding common purchasing mistakes.
Visual Bull Selection – Evaluate structural soundness, muscling, body condition, and other physical traits that influence longevity and performance.
Economics of Bull Buying – Understand the financial value of a herd bull investment and strategies to maximize return on investment.
Bull Reproductive Strategies – Review breeding soundness, fertility management, and management practices that support a successful breeding season.
Understanding Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) – Gain confidence in interpreting EPDs and using genetic information to select bulls that fit your herd's production and marketing goals.

Click the link below for more details and registration:

Join us for an educational program designed to help cattle producers make informed, profitable bull purchasing and management decisions.

08/21/2026

We are extremely happy to introduce our newest addition to UF/IFAS Extension Hardee County: Ms. Deanna Bigio.
Deanna is serving as our Residential Horticulture Agent. She is hired with a Master’s in Horticulture Science from UGA and extensive experience with home dooryard fruit production.
Deanna also brings experience from NC State Extension where she coordinated the Wake County Master Gardener Program. In this role she acquired a great deal of knowledge in edible landscaping, vegetable gardening, backyard pest management, among many other valuable skills.
She is looking forward to interacting with you and establishing our very first Hardee County Master Gardener program.

So, drop by 507 Civic Center Drive, in Wauchula to personally meet her and make her feel welcomed in our community. Bring your bugs and diseased plants with you, while you are at it.

08/17/2026

📚 Attention 4th & 5th Grade Teachers! 🍊

Registration is now open for A Land Remembered classroom materials!

If you'd like to bring this engaging lesson plan into your classroom, you can register using the link below. Don't miss this opportunity to access resources designed specifically for your students.

🔗 Registration link:
https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.cloud.microsoft%2Fpages%2Fresponsepage.aspx%3Fid%3D-KBNDTFKdk2s5gpiMx4bhLlLEGE0DK1LruOuG4GP70ZUMFhGRFhNUzc5UUFBS0pYRDUxMjRMTjFFWS4u%26origin%3DQRCode%26route%3Dshorturl&data=05%7C02%7Caddisonhalley%40ufl.edu%7C3fefd8a5d37e43fdc8a108deec1628a9%7C0d4da0f84a314d76ace60a62331e1b84%7C0%7C0%7C639207777122194960%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=T%2BU%2BsTUIG3n8c%2Fp%2BGzvqHY0stpWwOkJA5o6N86sicww%3D&reserved=0

08/17/2026

📣 ATTENTION HARDEE COUNTY FAMILIES! 🐰🐔🐮🌱

Come discover all that 4-H has to offer at the Hardee County 4-H Open House! 🎉

📅 Saturday, August 29th
⏰ 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Pioneer Park – Nickerson Pavilion, Zolfo Springs

This is a great opportunity for families to come out, meet our amazing 4-H leaders, and explore the many different interests and opportunities available through 4-H!

Your child can stop by each booth, talk with our leaders, ask questions, and discover what interests them most. Whether they're interested in rabbits, chickens, livestock, environmental science, or something completely different, there is something for everyone! 🐇🐓🐄🌿

And that's not all! We have some exciting community partners joining us:

🦌 Hardee County BOCC – Free admission to the Wildlife Animal Refuge for those attending the open house!

🌭 Hardee County Cloverleaf Foundation – Hot dog meals will be available on a first come, first served basis.

🍧 Hardee County Sheriff's Office – Stop by for a FREE snow cone!

Bring the family, explore the opportunities, meet our wonderful 4-H leaders, and find the perfect 4-H interest for your child! 💚🍀

We can't wait to see everyone on August 29th from 11 AM–1 PM!

Come see what 4-H is all about! 🎉🍀

07/31/2026

Did you know the New World screwworm can complete its entire life cycle in as fast as 21 days?

A female fly lays eggs in a wound… they hatch in 24–48 hours… larvae feed for about a week… then drop to the ground to pupate for another week before emerging as flies. Then the cycle starts all over again.

That’s why USDA and partners are flooding the area with sterile male flies. When female screwworm flies mate with these sterile males, the eggs never hatch, breaking the cycle and stopping the pest in its tracks.

Science, speed, and sterile flies =

07/16/2026

Understanding Pasture Mealybug: Science, Management & What We Know So Far
Friday, July 17, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. EDT

Hosted by the UF/IFAS Forage Team, this educational webinar will provide the latest information on the emerging pasture mealybug issue, including its biology, identification, management strategies, and currently available insecticide options. Speakers will discuss what researchers and industry professionals know so far and answer questions as time allows.

Featured Speakers:
-Dr. Marcelo Wallau, UF/IFAS Forage Extension Specialist
-Dr. Erin Powell, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
-Dr. Isaac Esquivel, UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center
-Dr. De-Fen Mou, UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center

Registration: Not required
Join via Zoom: https://ufl.zoom.us/j/97806711502
Learn More: https://go.ufl.edu/pasturemealybugs

07/10/2026

🐔 Thinking about getting chickens? Don't wing it, learn from the experts!

Join us for an evening of chicken-keeping essentials and learn how to raise a healthy backyard flock in Florida, from laws and regulations to nutrition, housing, breeds, and biosecurity!

🍽️ Dinner included!
🎟️ Register today before spots fill up!
https://chickenworkshopAug2026.eventbrite.com