UF IFAS Extension Manatee County

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UF IFAS Extension Manatee County All UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County comments are made by UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County designees.

We bring the resources of the University of Florida to Manatee County to solve local issues, provide educational opportunities, promote economic enhancement and improve the quality of life for all. The University of Florida Extension Manatee County intends to educate, inform and provide updated information on UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County's activities and to support and promote the UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County's objectives for these activities through its social media account. The University of Florida welcomes your comments on our social media posts and encourages interaction among Gators around the world. We also encourage our community to foster respectful and vibrant online connections. Before you post, please consider the UF Core Values and review these UF Community Commenting Guidelines (“Guidelines”). We review all comments made and when necessary, we reserve the right to remove comments that are:

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– Containing links to third-party websites or content

- Made in violation of Florida or federal law

Comments made by outside users are the opinions of the authors, not of the university. By posting a comment on our social media pages, you agree to follow the University of Florida Community Commenting Guidelines, host social media channel Terms of Service, Florida and federal law, and UF regulations and policies – including but not limited to the university’s Acceptable Use of Computing Resources Policy. Your comments may be removed if they are in violation of these Guidelines.

Want to make your backyard a welcoming spot for birds, butterflies, and other local wildlife?Join us for Florida-Friendl...
10/12/2026

Want to make your backyard a welcoming spot for birds, butterflies, and other local wildlife?

Join us for Florida-Friendly Backyard Landscaping for Wildlife on October 22 at Palma Sola Botanical Park! Learn how to create a Florida-Friendly landscape that provides valuable habitat and resources for wildlife while helping you connect with the nature right outside your door.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/5c5dhjbk

10/12/2026

On National Farmers Day, we’re celebrating the farmers who have helped shape Manatee County’s agricultural history and continue to put food on our tables and keep agriculture moving forward. But agriculture doesn’t have to mean acres of fields, tractors, and large-scale production. Sometimes, it starts right in your own backyard.

Through our office, we help people learn how to grow their own food, understand where their food comes from and develop the skills to become more confident gardeners. Our recent fall vegetable gardening class was a great example of that, with community members learning how to get started growing vegetables at home.

Whether you’re growing a few vegetables in a backyard garden or managing a farm, there’s a place for everyone in agriculture. Today, we’re celebrating all of it and the people who keep it growing.

10/09/2026

Don't let the ghosts of your old clothes haunt you... bring them to the clothing swap instead!

Our next Clothing Swap is happening next Friday and Saturday, October 16 & 17, from 9am-12pm at the Agriculture & Extension Service in Palmetto. Bring your clean, gently used clothing and accessories and browse for something new-to-you, all for free! We’re also accepting Halloween costume donations, so you might even find what you need for a last-minute costume while giving something from your closet a second life.

Donations can be dropped off ahead of time during regular office hours, Monday–Friday, 8am-5pm, or during the event. No registration is required, but signing up helps us plan for the number of people attending. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/3bpv4ysh

10/08/2026

There’s nothing scarier than an irrigation leak you didn’t know you had… especially when it’s sending water straight toward the ocean.

Check your irrigation system for leaks, broken heads, and other water wasters before they turn into a real nightmare this season. Not sure about your irrigation? Call our Mobile Irrigation Lab at (941) 722-4524 for your FREE irrigation evaluation!

Interested in bugs? Manatee County 4-H has TWO ways for youth to get hands-on with entomology this year!For individual y...
10/07/2026

Interested in bugs? Manatee County 4-H has TWO ways for youth to get hands-on with entomology this year!

For individual youth ages 8 and up, 4-H Bug Club meets two Wednesdays per month to explore insect identification, classification, life cycles, and the important roles insects play in ecosystems and agriculture. Members will also learn how to properly collect, pin, and label insects and prepare to compete in the Florida 4-H Insectathon in February. All necessary supplies are included with membership, and you don’t have to be part of another 4-H club to join. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/4a4uf2fb

For classrooms, our new 4-H Entomology School Enrichment Program brings entomology right into the school! Students will meet live arthropods, raise ladybugs, record observations, and learn how scientists study insects and other arthropods. 4-H provides the ladybug habitats, classroom visits, materials and lesson plans for teachers to use between visits. Contact (941) 722-4524 ext. 1844 or ext. 1843 to reserve your class.

October is here, and it’s time to start transitioning the garden for the cooler months ahead! This is a great time to pl...
10/06/2026

October is here, and it’s time to start transitioning the garden for the cooler months ahead!

This is a great time to plant fall annuals like dianthus, petunias and pansies, get bulbs in the ground for future blooms, and start a variety of herbs and cool-season vegetables like parsley, cilantro, broccoli, collards and kale.

Check out our October What to Plant guide for more ideas on what to plant and what to do in your Central Florida garden this month! Want more information? Visit our site here to read more about gardening during October: https://tinyurl.com/y5s6tc4u

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the farms and agricultural businesses that help keep Manatee County thri...
10/05/2026

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the farms and agricultural businesses that help keep Manatee County thriving?

The 35th Annual Manatee County Farm City Week Agricultural Tour is your chance to find out! Join us on Friday, November 6, for a behind-the-scenes look at local agricultural operations, including historic farms, nurseries and fisheries. It’s a unique opportunity to see local agriculture in action and learn more about the people and businesses that help shape our community.

The tour begins at UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County, with gates opening at 7:30am and buses departing promptly at 8am. Your $50 registration includes transportation, lunch, snacks and admission to all tour stops.

Spots for this tour are limited and are expected to fill quickly, so don’t wait to register! Reservations are required by November 1, and your spot is not secured until payment is completed. Have questions? Call our office at (941) 722-4524.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/mtvsn4w6

Do you have clothes that don't fit anymore? Do you have Halloween costumes that are taking up space? Bring your donation...
10/02/2026

Do you have clothes that don't fit anymore? Do you have Halloween costumes that are taking up space? Bring your donations to our office for our FREE community clothing swap.

You can bring donations ahead of the event to our office or bring donations with you on the day of the swap. We look forward to seeing you on October 16 and 17 from 9am-12pm for our clothing swap!

You do not have to register for the swap to attend, but it helps give us a better idea of how many people to expect. You can register HERE: https://tinyurl.com/45muzvsz

10/01/2026

There’s more to a community garden than what’s growing in the ground!

Take a look at how things are growing at Geraldson Community Garden, our newest community garden, and hear directly from the gardeners about their experiences, what they’ve learned, and what they would tell someone thinking about getting involved.

From learning something new to connecting with others in the community, Geraldson is growing more than just plants. If you are interested in learning more about Manatee County community gardens reach out to the Agriculture and Extension Service at (941) 722-4524

09/30/2026

A little planting can make a big difference for our waterways! Recently, the Manatee County Agriculture and Extension Service worked alongside UF/IFAS Extension agents, Property Management, and the Manatee County Offender Work Program at Parrish Community Park to plant a variety of plants around the pond to create a pond buffer zone.

Stormwater ponds do more than collect rainwater- they help capture runoff before it reaches our natural waterways. A planted buffer around the pond can help stabilize the shoreline, reduce erosion, absorb nutrients and pollutants, provide habitat for wildlife, and limit the impact of mowing, fertilizer, and other landscape activities near the water.

Projects like this are a great example of what can happen when different parts of our community work together. We’re proud to be part of a collaboration focused on keeping Manatee County beautiful, protecting our water resources, and creating healthy spaces that can be enjoyed for generations to come.

For more information on stormwater ponds visit here: https://tinyurl.com/24846z67

Address

1303 17th Street W
Palmetto, FL
34221

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+19417224524

Website

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