Cheryl Mackowiak

0000-0001-9860-6665

Tissue Analysis as a Nutrient Management Tool for Bahiagrass Pastures

M. L. Silveira, J. M. Vendramini, L. E. Sollenberger, and C. L. Mackowiak

Lowering Soil pH to Optimize Nutrient Management and Crop Production

Rao Mylavarapu, George Hochmuth, Cheryl Mackowiak, Alan Wright, and Maria Silveira

Soil-Test-Based Phosphorus Recommendations for Commercial Agricultural Production in Florida

Rao Mylavarapu, Yuncong Li, Maria Silveira, Cheryl Mackowiak, and Mabry McCray

Development of Bahiagrass Fertilization Recommendations: 1990–2008

Rao Mylavarapu, E. A. Hanlon, C. L. Mackowiak, and M. L. Silveira

Overseeding Rhizoma Perennial Peanut Pasture and Hay Fields during the Cool Season

Jose Dubeux, Cheryl Mackowiak, Ann Blount, David Wright, and Luana Dantas

An Extensionist’s Guide to Farm and Site Visits

Marcelo Wallau, Bob Hochmuth, Tatiana Sanchez-Jones, Mark Warren, Carissa Wickens, Prissy Fletcher, and Cheryl Mackowiak

Farm and site visits are a major component of Extension work, whether as a county faculty or state specialist. They serve various purposes, such as informal check-ins, relationship building, problem solving, sharing technology, and information collection. While time-consuming, farm visits are often the most effective method for addressing problems and developing deeper connections with stakeholders (Petrzelka, Padgitt, and Windestenn, 1999). These visits provide firsthand knowledge of the issues clients face and are effective in establishing collaborations, assessing needs, understanding agricultural production systems, and validating research applications (Oakley and Garforth, 1985; Seevers and Graham, 2012). This publication explores different facets of farm and site visits, including preparation before the visit, the investigative (problem-solving) process during the visit, and post-visit procedures. Additional resources are included to support client visits and troubleshooting.

Managing Cover Crops for Improved Soil Health

R. Seepaul, S. George, J. Love, D. W. Wright, C. Mackowiak, and A. Blount

This publication aims to help growers and researchers understand the role of cover crops in improving soil health. The document provides recommendations on managing cover crops and describes the benefits of growing cover crops. Written by R. Seepaul, S. George, J. Love, D. W. Wright, C. Mackowiak, and A. Blount, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised January 2023.

A Preliminary Survey of Mycotoxins Identified from Florida Bahiagrass Pastures

Hui-Ling (Sunny) Liao, Ko-Hsuan Chen, Florencia Marcon, Robert (Robbie) Jones, Brittany Justesen, Joseph Walter, Ann Blount, Cheryl Mackowiak, Doug Mayo, and Marcelo Wallau

The beef cattle ranchers in Florida reported some health issues related to cattle grazing on warm-season grass pastures, such as bahiagrass and bermudagrass. The illness was not attributable to nutritional imbalances, or other possible causes. The focus then turned to what the animals were consuming, and forages were implicated. In general, the forages in Florida are just fine, however, sometimes under certain circumstances the fungi that live in our forages may produce “secondary metabolites”. All the forage harbor fungi. Some fungi are good in that they aid our forages to grow better, helping to mine nutrients from the soil or atmosphere. Sometimes they are not so good, like when high levels of ergotized seed occur in the seed heads of bahiagrass.

Tillage and Overseeding Pastures for Winter Forage Production in North Florida

C. L. Mackowiak, J. C. B. Dubeux, S. George, D. L. Wright, A. R. Blount, and I. Small

The purpose of this publication is to provide guidance on preparing and planting annual cool-season forages on prepared seedbeds and overseeding annual cool-season forages on pastures in north Florida. Written by C. L. Mackowiak, J. C. B. Dubeux, S. George, D. L. Wright, A. R. Blount, and I. Small, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised April 2024.

Liming of Agronomic Crops

D. L. Wright, and C. Mackowiak

The primary reason for liming acid soil is to improve the yield or quality of the crop being grown. It is difficult to determine the precise factor that is responsible for the improved growth after liming because a number of soil parameters change simultaneously as soil acidity is altered.

Nutrient Management in Low-Chill Peach Orchards: Guidelines for Deficiency Symptoms and Leaf and Soil Sampling

Jonathan Clavijo-Herrera, Ali Sarkhosh, Lincoln Zotarelli, Cheryl Mackowiak, and Rao S. Mylavarapu

Timely and informed fertilization practices in peach production are essential to obtain high yields, optimal fruit quality, and secure long-term orchard health and productivity. Recognizing nutrient deficiency symptoms can help identify which nutrients a plant may be lacking, but a solid nutrient management program should regularly test soil and foliar samples to detect issues before symptoms appear. This publication provides suggested nutrient sufficiency ranges for peach trees, along with practical guidelines for identifying nutrient deficiency symptoms and conducting soil and foliar sampling in the orchard. Its goal is to support county Extension agents and faculty, growers, and homeowners with general and practical guidelines for optimizing nutrient management in peach orchards.

Survey of Mycotoxins Present in Florida Pastures Across Time, Locations, and Grass Species

Hui-Ling (Sunny) Liao, Kaile Zhang, Vijay Verma, Haihua Wang, Brittany Justesen, Joseph Walter, Valerie Mendez, Ann Blount, Cheryl Mackowiak, Marcelo Wallau, Robbie Jones, Ko-Hsuan Chen, Ed Jennings, JK Yarborough, Doug Mayo, Ray Bodrey, and Aaron S

The toxicity of grasses caused by mycotoxins has led to economic losses in the United States due to the health impact on livestock feeding on it. Florida's warm and humid weather is favorable for the growth of mycotoxin-producing fungi on grasses. The JECFA has provided evaluations and risk management for some high-risk mycotoxins; however, more research is needed in Florida to determine the maximum levels of these mycotoxins, how different environmental conditions affect these levels, and the specialized risk management to prevent animals from getting sick. Our Extension agents were able to collect and examine 195 grass samples from 13 ranchers across dry and wet seasons in Florida. In this publication, we summarized the results for our ranchers to learn more about (1) what (dominant) mycotoxins are generally present in Florida’s pastures, (2) what grass species could harbor more of these mycotoxins, and (3) what seasons or locations may favor these dominant mycotoxins.

Perennial Peanut as a Potential Living Mulch and Nitrogen Source for Citrus and Other Orchard Crops in Florida

Muhammad A. Shahid, K. Leaks, A. R. Blount, and Cheryl Mackowiak

The concept of using a perennial peanut as a living mulch and source of biological nitrogen in fruit and nut crop orchards is not a new idea. In Central and South America, perennial peanuts have long been incorporated as a living groundcover into palm, coffee, cacao, plantain, and citrus, as well as into other fruit and nut production orchards. This cover crop may pose as a viable, environmentally-friendly option for production in Florida, too.

Nutrient Management in Low-Chill Peach Orchards: Guidelines for Fertilizer Rate Application in Florida Subtropical Climate

Jonathan Clavijo-Herrera, Ali Sarkhosh, Lincoln Zotarelli, Cheryl Mackowiak, and Rao S. Mylavarapu

Appropriate fertilization of perennial fruit tree species is critical to ensure vegetative and reproductive growth, as these processes demand considerable amounts of resources. Adequate fertilization management practices at all stages of peach development are essential to obtain high yields and optimal fruit quality, as well as to ensure healthy vegetative growth that supports the crop for the following year. Fertilization practices are also important economically since they represent an important portion of the costs associated with peach production. Improper fertilization can have negative agronomic and environmental consequences. This publication discusses and suggests general fertilization management practices for peach trees growing under the subtropical climate of Florida to provide information to county and state Extension faculty, growers, and homeowners interested in peach production in Florida.

Field Corn Production Guide

David Wright, Ian Small, Cheryl Mackowiak, Zane Grabau, Pratap Devkota, and Silvana Paula-Moraes

This publication discusses several aspects of field corn production in Florida, such as economics, land preparation, hybrid selection, fertilization, irrigation, and disease management. Written by David Wright, Ian Small, Cheryl Mackowiak, Zane Grabau, Pratap Devkota, and Silvana Paula-Moraes, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised August 2022.

A Walk on the Wild Side: 2024 Cool-Season Forage Recommendations for Wildlife Food Plots in North Florida

M. Wallau, A. R. Blount, J. M. Campos-Krauer, M. A. Lashley, E. Rios, J. M. B. Vendramini, J. C. B. Dubeux, Md. A. Babar, C. L. Mackowiak, C.H.L. de Souza, and K. H. Quesenberry

The list of cool-season forage recommendations for wildlife in this publication includes varieties that have been tested and are known to perform well in Florida.

Fertilization of Agronomic Crops

D. L. Wright and C. Mackowiak

Development of fertilization programs for Florida field or forage crops requires that consideration be given to nutrient requirements for each crop, soil nutrient levels, reactions of the soil with added nutrients, and the ability of the soil to retain and deliver nutrients and water. These factors are used to determine rates, placement, and timing of fertilizer applications.

Mycotoxins in Florida Pastures

Marcelo Wallau, Brittany Justesen, Ann Blount, Cheryl Mackowiak, Hui-Ling (Sunny) Liao, and Diwakar Vyas

Beef cattle producers in Florida have expressed concerns about the potential presence of mycotoxins in summer perennial forages. In other regions of the US, mycotoxins in forage crops have caused productivity and economic losses. This article provides information about the current state of knowledge regarding mycotoxins in Florida perennial grass pastures.

Brunswickgrass (Paspalum nicorae): A Weed Contaminant in Southern Pastures and Bahiagrass Seed Production Fields

Ann Blount, Marcelo Wallau, Brent Sellers, Dennis Hancock, Leanne Dillard, Jose Dubeux, Cheryl Mackowiak, Joao Vendramini, and Clay Cooper

This publication provides information on the identification, biology, and management of brunswickgrass. Written by Ann Blount, Marcelo Wallau, Brent Sellers, Dennis Hancock, Leanne Dillard, Jose Dubeux, Cheryl Mackowiak, Joao Vendramini, and Clay Cooper, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised January 2022.