North Florida Research and Education Center

3925 Hwy 71
Marianna, FL 32446-7906
Phone: (850) 482-9849
Fax: (850) 482-9917
Email: paspalum@ufl.edu

Current Projects

Ann Blount

Extension Specialist, Forage Breeding & Management

Professor of Agronomy

Forage Production
Forage research and extension is centered on improved forage cultivars, best management practices, and the delivery of these technologies to livestock producers, wildlife managers, and related forage industries in the region. Using improved cultivars and better management should increase forage yields, live weight gains of livestock, and net returns on farm profitability. More.....

Plant Breeding
The peanut and small grains plant breeding programs at the North Florida Research and Education Center are internationally recognized for developing cultivars that have world-wide economic importance. The major focus of the peanut program is introgressing plant-pest resistance and unique oleic acid chemistry into agronomically desirable cultivars.  More.....

Livestock Nutrition/Forage Utilization
 This project involves research trials and education programs focusing on beef cattle nutrition and forage utilization, primarily pasture forages.  Emphasis is placed on maximizing the use of pasture forage for beef cattle production and minimizing the use of harvested (i.e. hay) and purchased feed.  The evaluation of both improved cultivars and existing adapted  forage species for palatability and nutritional quality are emphasized.  While the goal is to minimize outside feed inputs, there are times when supplemental energy or protein feeds are needed; therefore, the evaluation of various beef cattle supplementation programs is another part of this project.  the use of locally available feeds and by-products are and will be evaluated in regards to nutritional quality and how to best utilize them in a supplementation program. [Myer, Carter, Blount]

Sod Rotation
The use of crop rotation is a fundamental principle of sound crop production. The rotation of bahiagrass sod, which can be used as pasture or cut for hay, is a proven method to increase yields of peanut and cotton crops. This multi-state project has research sites in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia and involves cooperation from state and federal agencies.  The objectives for this project include: (1) develop and compare the economic and environmental benefits of conventional and sod based farming systems using conservation tillage systems, (2) quantify the positive impact that sod based rotations have on soil health, pest reduction, water use, and sustainable farm production, and (3) refine and promote production practices in a sod based rotation which result in significant yield increases associated with decreased inputs.  More.....