UF Agronomy

UF Agronomy Agronomy at the University of Florida (IFAS) is the science and technology of using plants for food, fuel, feed, and fiber.

Visit http://agronomy.ifas.ufl.edu for more information. The Agronomy Department at the University of Florida focuses on the science of using plants for food, feed, fuel, fiber and turf, as well as in the management of weed species, through research, teaching, and outreach programs.

🌱 Exciting News! 🌱✨ We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Bodie Fletcher has begun a new role as Instructional Assistant ...
08/08/2025

🌱 Exciting News! 🌱
✨ We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Bodie Fletcher has begun a new role as Instructional Assistant Professor UF Agronomy! Starting on Spring 2026, Dr. Fletcher will bring her energy and expertise to courses focusing on plant science and crop physiology, with a unique emphasis on hands-on learning and student engagement.

Her research centers around plant breeding and genetics, specifically the improvement of abiotic stress response and nutritional content in soybeans.
Please join us on welcoming Dr. Fletcher to the Gator family and wishing her the very best as she helps shape the future of agronomy University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences!

05/30/2025

✨This summer, the UF Agronomy Department, led by Dr. William Hammond and Dr. Rose Koenig, is spearheading the "University of Florida in Costa Rica: Plants & People in the Anthropocene" study abroad program, which is currently underway. Over 4 immersive weeks, students have been exploring Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity, engage with local experts, and gain hands-on experience in tropical ecological systems and plant ecology. The program partners with the Tropical Studies Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) and the CATIE (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza), offering unparalleled access to diverse ecological zones and research stations.
Participants earn 6 University of Florida credits through courses focused on the human dimensions of tropical ecological systems and plant ecology in the Anthropocene, all while experiencing excursions to national parks, volcanoes, and cultural sites. This is a unique chance to develop a global perspective, expand academic horizons, and connect with leaders in the field of agronomy. 🧡💙🐊

05/16/2025

🚀 Excited to Announce: The 3rd Multi-Omic Integration for AI Genomic Prediction Breeding Short Course at UF! 🚀
Join us July 7–11, 2025, at the University of Florida’s state-of-the-art NVIDIA-Malachowsky Auditorium for the third edition of this pioneering short course, organized by Dr. Diego Jarquin, Assistant Professor in the UF Agronomy Department. Dr. Jarquin is renowned for his innovative work integrating artificial intelligence and multi-omics to advance plant and animal breeding and address global food security challenges.

This year’s program features an exceptional lineup of speakers, including:
Dr. Charlie Messina – Professor at the Horticultural Sciences at University of Florida and Director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Crop Transformation Center, whose leadership bridges industry and academia to accelerate solutions for crop resilience and productivity.

Julian Garcia Abadillo Velasco – Ph.D. candidate under Dr. Julio Isidro y Sanchez, contributing cutting-edge research in AI-driven genomic prediction and multi-omic data integration.

Why attend?
⭐ Gain hands-on experience with the latest AI and multi-omics tools for plant and animal breeding.
⭐ Learn directly from global leaders in genomic prediction and breeding innovation.
⭐ Network with researchers, professionals, and students at the forefront of agricultural science.
⚠️ Limited seating available – don’t miss your chance to join this exclusive event!
⏰ Early Registration ends June 7th – secure your spot and take advantage of discounted rates today!

📅 July 7–11, 2025
📍 NVIDIA-Malachowsky Auditorium, University of Florida
Looking forward to seeing you there!

To register: https://lnkd.in/eTF7giSN

04/02/2025

🚨 Join Us for the 3rd Multi-Omic Integration for Artificial Intelligence Short Course! 🚨
📅 Date: July 7-11, 2025
📍 Location: University of Florida, NVIDIA-Malachowsky Auditorium
We’re excited to announce the III Multi-Omic Integration for AI Genomic Prediction Breeding Short Course — a unique opportunity to dive into cutting-edge advancements in multi-omics and AI for plant and animal breeding.

Why Attend?
Gain hands-on experience with multi-omics data integration and AI techniques.
Learn from world-renowned experts like Dr. Diego Jarquin (UF Agronomy Department) and Dr. Julio Isidro y Sanchez (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Oficial).
Network with professionals and researchers from around the globe.
Dr. Isidro y Sanchez will deliver a thought-provoking presentation: "Rethinking Optimal Genomic Mating: A Closer Look at the Usefulness Criterion."
🎟️ Registration is now open! Early bird and student discounts available.
Don’t miss this chance to be at the forefront of innovation in genomic prediction and breeding!
👉 Register now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1264032417989?aff=oddtdtcreator

✨ Congratulations to Dr. Naeem Khan Yousafzai, who was awarded the 2025 University of Florida Institute of Food and Agri...
04/02/2025

✨ Congratulations to Dr. Naeem Khan Yousafzai, who was awarded the 2025 University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Superior Accomplishment Award in the Sustained Excellence category! This recognition reflects years of dedication to advancing plant science, particularly in understanding plant-microbe interactions, phytohormones, and stress responses to improve global food security.
Dr. Naeem Khan Yousafzai is a distinguished Biological Scientist III working with Dr. Ali Babar. Over the past several years, Dr. Naeem Khan Yousafzai has made remarkable contributions to plant science, particularly in breeding drought and heat-tolerant crops. His pioneering research on drought-resilient chickpeas and heat-tolerant wheat and oat cultivars has set new benchmarks in the field. His integration of advanced genomic and metabolomic techniques into breeding programs has accelerated the development of robust. climate-adaptive crops. His efforts in expanding crop diversification, particularly with nutrient-rich chickpeas varieties, have provided sustainable agricultural solutions for the Southeastern United States. 🌱🔬

Dr. Naeem Khan Yousafzai's groundbreaking contributions have played a vital role in positioning the UF Agronomy Department at the forefront of global agricultural innovation.

03/28/2025

🚨 Join Us for the 3rd Multi-Omic Integration for Artificial Intelligence Short Course! 🚨
📅 Date: July 7-11, 2025
📍 Location: University of Florida, NVIDIA-Malachowsky Auditorium
We’re thrilled to announce the upcoming III Multi-Omic Integration for AI Genomic Prediction Breeding Short Course, an unparalleled opportunity to explore cutting-edge advancements in multi-omics and artificial intelligence for plant and animal breeding.

This course is organized by Dr. Diego Jarquin, Assistant Professor in the UF Agronomy Department, whose groundbreaking research focuses on integrating and to tackle complex challenges in plant systems biology.

We are also excited to feature Dr. Paulino Pérez-Rodríguez, a leading faculty member in Statistics and Data Science at Colegio de Postgraduados, Mexico. Dr. Pérez-Rodríguez will share his expertise on advanced prediction models and genomic selection strategies.

Why Attend?
✅Gain hands-on experience with multi-omics data integration and AI techniques.
✅Learn from world-renowned experts in genomic prediction and breeding.
✅Network with professionals and researchers from around the globe.
🎟️ Registration is now open! Early-bird and student discounts are available.
Don’t miss this chance to be at the forefront of innovation in genomic prediction and breeding!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1264032417989?aff=oddtdtcreator

03/19/2025

🚀 Exciting Opportunity in AI-Driven Plant & Animal Breeding! 🌱
Dr. Diego Jarquin, Assistant Professor at the UF Agronomy Department is thrilled to announce the 3rd Multi-Omic Integration for AI Genomic Prediction Breeding Short Course! 📅 July 7–11, 2025 at the state-of-the-art NVIDIA-Malachowsky Auditorium, University of Florida.

This course is tailored for research scientists from academia and industry seeking to master cutting-edge frameworks for integrating multi-omics data (genomics, weather, phenomics, etc.) with AI-driven prediction models in breeding programs.

Why Attend?
✅ Learn from global experts about implementing genomic selection (GS) and AI in diverse crops (fruits, grains, forages).
✅ Master novel techniques like:
Genomic Prediction (GP) with AI and high-throughput phenotyping
Multi-Omics Integration for continuous/categorical data
Crop Growth Models (CGM) for G×E×M interactions
✅ Deep learning optimization
✅ Network with leaders in plant/animal breeding and AI innovation.

Key Topics Covered:
🔹 Genomic Selection (GS) & GP models
🔹 AI methods for GP
🔹 Multi-Omics integration
🔹 G×E interaction prediction
🔹 Sparse testing designs
🔹 GPU Acceleration
🔹 Training testing optimization
🔹 Strategies to deal with large data sets

👉 Perfect for researchers aiming to accelerate breeding pipelines and tackle climate resilience challenges!

📢 To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1264032417989?aff=oddtdtcreator

03/07/2025

🚀 Exciting Opportunity in AI-Driven Plant & Animal Breeding! 🌱
Dr. Diego Jarquin, Assistant Professor UF Agronomy Department, is thrilled to announce the 3rd Multi-Omic Integration for AI Genomic Prediction Breeding Short Course! 📅 July 7–11, 2025 at the state-of-the-art NVIDIA-Malachowsky Auditorium, University of Florida

This course is tailored for research scientists from academia and industry seeking to master cutting-edge frameworks for integrating multi-omics data (genomics, weather, phenomics, etc.) with AI-driven prediction models in breeding programs.

Why Attend?
✅ Learn from global experts about implementing genomic selection (GS) and AI in diverse crops (fruits, grains, forages).
✅ Master novel techniques like:

​✔Genomic Prediction (GP) with AI and high-throughput phenotyping
​✔Multi-Omics Integration for continuous/categorical data
​✔Crop Growth Models (CGM) for G×E×M interactions
​✔ Deep learning optimization
​✔ Network with leaders in plant/animal breeding and AI innovation.

Key Topics Covered:
🔹 Genomic Selection (GS) & GP models
🔹 AI methods for GP
🔹 Multi-Omics integration
🔹 G×E interaction prediction
🔹 Sparse testing designs
🔹 GPU Acceleration
🔹 Training testing optimization
🔹 Strategies to deal with large data sets

👉 Perfect for researchers aiming to accelerate breeding pipelines and tackle climate resilience challenges!
📢 To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1264032417989?aff=oddtdtcreator

📣 Join us for an exciting event hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Agronomy...
02/21/2025

📣 Join us for an exciting event hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Agronomy-Soils Student Club

Event: Let's Grow Potatoes!!!
Date: March 1, 2025
Time: 10 AM
Location: Newell Hall

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about hilling, growing, and gardening with potatoes. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting, come and discover how to help your potato plants thrive!
Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your gardening skills and connect with fellow enthusiasts. We look forward to seeing you there! 🧡 💙 🐊

📢 Join us for an exciting opportunity to engage with industry expert Gus Plamann. The event is hosted by the University ...
02/21/2025

📢 Join us for an exciting opportunity to engage with industry expert Gus Plamann. The event is hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences by the Agronomy Soils Student Club.

Event Details:
Date: February 25, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: McCarty Hall A, Room 3177

This event promises to be an enriching experience for all students interested in agronomy, soils, and sustainable agricultural practices. Gus Plamann brings a wealth of knowledge from his role as a technical agronomist at Biome Makers, where he focuses on improving soil health and empowering farmers through innovative solutions.
Don't miss this chance to learn from Gus's insights and connect with fellow students who share your passion for agriculture. We look forward to seeing you there! 🧡 💙 🐊

Address

1676 McCarty Drive
Gainesville, FL
32611

Telephone

+13523921811

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when UF Agronomy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The University

Send a message to UF Agronomy:

Shortcuts

Share

Category