The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hopes to help growers with solutions for their plant problems.
The school’s Plant Diagnostic Center has launched a new website, Diagnostics.ifas.ufl.edu, to expedite the process of finding answers to plant questions.
Carrie Harmon, director of the Plant Diagnostic Center, said in a release, “Maybe it’s a farmer who has spotted an unfamiliar bug in the fields, or a homeowner whose once-healthy garden has developed discoloration on some leaves. In these instances, growers just want solutions.”
The new website aims to be a one-stop shop, connecting the internal and external audience to the plant problem solutions needed, in just a few clicks.
The internal audience is an extensive network of UF/IFAS Extension agents in every Florida county, the Florida Master Gardeners program, and several plant health clinics throughout the state.
The website’s external audience is anyone who is seeking help for their plants, whether that involves disease, pest or weed identification; soil and water quality testing; or resources and suggested management methods for a known problem.
Harmon said, “We need people to know that they’ve got this incredible resource in the community.”
Of course, those seeking answers can still visit their local Extension office and get to know the agents and master gardeners to take full advantage of the expertise and help they can provide.
Published October 09, 2019
