MENU

AskIFAS Powered by EDIS

about page banner

Agriculture

The science or practice of farming, including growing crops and raising animals for the production of food, fiber, fuel and other products. [NALT]

Agriculture or farming is the cultivation and breeding of animals, plants and fungi for food, fiber, biofuel, medicinal plants and other products used to sustain and enhance human life. [AGROVOC]

Narrower Topics

Agricultural Health and Safety

The promotion of a safe and healthy environment to support the physical and mental well-being among humans engaged in agricultural activities.

Agricultural Water Management

The study, planning, monitoring, and application of quantitative and qualitative control and development techniques for long-term, multiple use of water resources for agricultural purposes including irrigation and livestock watering. [AGROVOC]

Agrochemicals

Agrochemicals are commercially produced, usually synthetic, chemical compounds used in farming such as a fertilizer, pesticide or soil conditioner.,Any substanceor mixture of substances used or intended to be used for preventing, destroying, repelling, attracting, inhibiting, or controlling any insects, rodents, birds, nematodes, bacteria, fungi, weeds or other forms of plant, animal or microbial life regarded as pests. [AGROVOC]

Animal Husbandry

Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with animals that are raised for meat, fibre, milk, eggs, or other products. [AGROVOC]

Apiculture

Honey bees are known to be the strongest link in the chain between food producers and consumers. They contribute nearly $20 billion to the crop industry by providing pollination services all over the United States, and Florida's honey industry is ranked among the top five in the nation. There are nearly 5,000 registered beekeepers in the state of Florida, managing approximately 630,000 colonies. Unfortunately, high colony loss rates of honey bees have been reported throughout the world. Stressors, such as Varroa destructor, queen quality, and nutrition are just some of the reported factors associated with this decline. Researchers have been working to identify best management practices to mitigate these losses. All recommendations in these publications are based on scientific literature about honey bees in Florida and around the world. 

Cellular Agriculture

The production of agricultural products (meat, milk, leather, eggs, gelatin, etc.) from cell cultures.

Farming Systems

The farming system is defined as a decision-making unit comprising the farm household, cropping systems, and livestock systems, which transforms land, external inputs (seed, pesticides, nutrients, etc.), and labor (including knowledge) into useful products that can be consumed or sold. [NALT]

Horticulture

Horticulture is defined as that branch of agriculture concerned with growing plants that are used by people for food, for medicinal purposes, and for aesthetic gratification. [NALT]

Nutrient Management

Nutrient management is the science and practice directed to link soil, crop, weather, and hydrologic factors with cultural, irrigation, and soil and water conservation practices to achieve optimal nutrient use efficiency, crop yields, crop quality, and economic returns, while reducing off-site transport of nutrients (fertilizer) that may impact the environment.

 

Protected Cultivation

The production of high-value vegetables and other horticultural crops in greenhouses and vertical farms. It allows farmers to grow cash crops on small plots in marginal, water-deficient areas where traditional cropping may not be viable. Also called protected agriculture or protected crop production.

Urban Agriculture

Urban agriculture (UA) is defined as the production of crop and livestock goods within cities and towns.

Publications

No Publications Found

Related IFAS Blog Posts

From Florida to Jordan: Training Scientists on Climate-Smart Agricultural Solutions

Alejandro SanchezSeptember 23rd, 2024In a country like Jordan in the Middle East, where rainfall is scarce and water resources are severely strained, the agricultural sector is facing significant threats. From reduced crop yields to soil degradation, and growing water scarcity, farmers need to deal with limited access to irrigation and supplies, which puts immense pressure on both food production […]

Hurricane Debby: Florida agricultural production losses top $93M, UF economists estimate

Megan WinslowSeptember 19th, 2024The UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program rapidly assesses the impacts to Florida agriculture following extreme weather events. The preliminary report for Hurricane Debby is newly released. The report estimates a credible range of losses between $93.7 million and $263.2 million. This range will be narrowed in a final report released in the coming months. The […]

Pepper Field Day – October 23

Tatiana Sanchez, DPMSeptember 17th, 2024Florida continues to shine in the U.S. pepper production scene, even with the rising competition from imports. We cultivate a diverse range of peppers, from sweet bell peppers to specialty varieties like jalapeños and habaneros. Like many other vegetable crops, field peppers are grown on raised beds with plastic mulch and drip irrigation. If you’ve […]