Agriculture

Safety Considerations with Back Yard Chickens

While enjoying all the benefits of raising back yard chickens, it is also important to remember the risk of illness. This can result from playing in the area where they are kept or through handling the live birds. Poultry of any kind are carriers of harmful bacteria called Salmonella. Salmonella is a type of germ that naturally lives in the intestines of poultry and many other animals. Even organically fed poultry have Salmonella. While it usually doesn't make the birds sick, the bacteria can cause serious illness when it is passed to humans. Learn how to prevent this illness from occuring in your family.

Learn how to care for your backyard chickens

Dr. Michael Davis' Feathered Facts, covers everything you wanted to know (and more) about caring for your chickens. Read More.

Small Flock Poultry Production Conference Proceedings

Did you miss the 2015 Conference? You can view all of the conference proceedings to learn how to take care of your chickens.

Brevard County Farmers Market

The mission of the Brevard County Farmers Market is to build a healthy, vibrant, and prosperous community. How do we do this? We link regional farmers, fishermen, growers, and producers who sell fresh, local produce with consumers…putting the best food in the hands of those who most need and want them, and strengthening our local economy!

The Market is operated through a joint partnership with Brevard County Parks & Recreation and the University of Florida/IFAS Extension Brevard County.

Florida Food Connect

Check out Florida Food Connect. This site was developed by UF/IFAS, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services , and University of Illinois MarketMaker to connect producers to buyers.

Whole Farm Integrated Pest Management

The Whole Farm Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy is to design and establish agricultural systems that are pest resistant and as a result, rarely requires potentially disruptive pest control practices. Whole Farm IPM is the pest management segment of agroecology, the design and management of sustainable farms or agroecosystems. These systems support agricultural production in healthy environments, consider economics and the viability of agricultural communities, and take advantage of ecosystem services, such as biological control of pests and crop pollination. Whole Farm IPM is particularly applicable to small farms which include more than 90% of farms in the Southeast. Visit the UF/IFAS Virtual Field website for this and other educational videos.

Interested in Aquaponics?

Holly Abeels, Florida Sea Grant Agent, gives a few pointers for starting your own aquaponics operation. Read More.

Upcoming Classes and Events

• Agriculture
• Pesticide Classes

Business

• Florida MarketMaker
• Cottage Food Law - info from FDACS
• Cottage Food Law - 2012 Florida Senate Statues
• Florida Tax Exemption for Selected Farm Equipment
• Primer for Developing a Farm Business Plan
• Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)
• Understanding the USDA Organic Label
• IFAS Farm Pocket Notebook
• Business Plan Builder

Best Management Practices

• Best Management Practices

Fact Sheets

• Creeping indigo
• Estabishing Perennial Pasture in Central Florida
• What You Need to Know to Get Started in Aquaponics
• Fertilizer Basics for Pasture Production
• Water Quality and Livestock
• Incubation of Bird Eggs

Resources

• Livestock & Poultry
• Beekeeping
• Citrus
• Pasture Management
• Pesticide Training and Worker Protection Standards
• Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises