UF IFAS Extension St Johns County

A transformative $9.5 million estate gift to the University of Florida will help advance research and outreach to protect livestock from pests and disease.

The newly established Carrie W. Earls Mosquito and Pest Eradication in Beef Cattle Fund will support work across UF/IFAS and the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, helping researchers develop new strategies to manage mosquitoes, biting flies, and other pests that impact cattle health and productivity.

The gift, made through the estate of Irene and Walter Earls, will support research, education, and Extension efforts that benefit Florida’s livestock producers while helping UF respond to emerging threats such as the New World screwworm.

For more information, click the link tr.ee/BGap540_ml

Congratulations to our Master Gardener Volunteer Class of 2026! We are proud to have 25 new faces work together with our seasoned volunteers to continue to serve our St Johns County community.

It's the first day of Hurricane Season. Make sure you know the difference between a watch and a warning.

Learn more about this important weather safety terminology from our friends at the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) ➡️ bit.ly/4jZDt2P.

Already know the difference? This is your sign to make a !

Drought doesn’t have to mean a dead lawn. 🌱
UF/IFAS research shows that simple maintenance adjustments, like raising mower height, watering deeply but infrequently, and improving soil health can dramatically increase your lawn’s drought tolerance.
Florida‑Friendly lawns focus on resilience, not perfection. A slightly dormant lawn during dry periods is normal and recoverable. With the right care, turf can survive drought while conserving water and reducing stress.

We will be closed on the 25th for Memorial Day. We will resume our normal hours on the 26th at 8:30 AM.
We hope you have a great weekend!

The Forbes Accessibility 200 highlights the biggest innovators and impact-makers in accessibility, from juggernauts like Microsoft to VC-seeking startups. Based on more than 700 interviews and input from an expert advisory board across all sectors of business and society, the list highlights companies, individuals, and organizations that make the world more available to everyone.

For the purposes of this list, “Accessibility” is defined as products, software and services that allow people with disabilities to have equitable access to information, content, public spaces, employment and life experiences.
Read more: https://www.forbes.com/lists/accessibility/?utm_campaign=ForbesMainFB&utm_source=ForbesMainFacebook&utm_medium=social

Do you know how to figure out if smoke is coming from a prescribed burn or an unplanned wildfire?

This new Ask IFAS guide links to trusted tools to help you find out in real time and dives into how prescribed burns are an important part of making sure communities are 🔗 tr.ee/Fk4oz408r_

Come check out UF IFAS at the St. Augustine Historical Society History Festival! Our 4H agent Courtney and the Small Farms agent of Duval County are demonstrating backyard chickens. Terra Freeman the Commercial Horticulture agent is giving information on Florida Friendly Landscaping. Our Agriculture agents Tim and Jeet are demonstrating livestock and row crops extension services. You can also find the Saint Johns County beekeepers and the Foresters with their great demonstrations as well.

We are extremely proud of our County Extension Director Tim Wilson for receiving the Distinguished Service Award presented by the Dean of Extension Dean Johnson. He has worked diligently as our director for over a decade helping as many people as he can and while being a great leader to everyone at our office. We are looking forward to his continuous hard work and collaboration with St. Johns County for many years to come.