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Principals have traditionally served as the instructional leader in a school, significantly impacting school culture and effectiveness. Despite this importance, little work has been conducted to examine how administrators view and impact school-based agricultural education programs. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how the leadership practices of principals support the culture of exemplary school-based agricultural education programs in Florida. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five principals who supported SBAE teachers in exemplary programs in Florida. Thematic analysis of the transcripts yielded several emergent themes. The principals relayed value in agricultural education and found that school-based agricultural education programs helped meet their school's overall goals. The principals saw their role as helping the teacher find ways to grow without micromanaging their work. The principals expressed interest in the prospect of professional development to help them support agriculture teachers in their programs. Based on these findings, the authors recommend state and national agricultural education leaders implement professional development opportunities for teachers and principals so they can work in concert to find areas where their goals intersect and focus on strengthening those areas. A model for examining principal support in SBAE is presented based on the findings.

Mosquitoes are both a nuisance and public health threat. In recent decades, outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika in Florida have raised awareness of the importance of domestic and peri-domestic container mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The synanthropic nature of these species, coupled with their preference for human bloodmeals, makes them a concern of and target for mosquito control. However, mosquito control programs (MCPs) often struggle to sustainably manage these mosquitoes because of the cryptic and abundant nature of their larval habitats, and negative public opinion towards MCPs and the use of insecticides. Fortunately, mosquito control can be improved by the actions of homeowners and residents as they have regular access to their own property and containers. Schoolbased education programs can provide a means to community-wide education regarding mosquito control. We developed and delivered a mosquito education program to elementary, middle, and high school students. Knowledge of mosquitoes significantly improved in participating elementary and middle/high school students. This knowledge was partially retained according to a follow-up test that was administered. Additionally, attitudes towards mosquito control and at-home control methods significantly improved following the instruction. The improvements in knowledge and attitudes observed in students suggest they can and should be targeted for mosquito education campaigns by mosquito control programs and educators.

Educating farm labor supervisors about the regulations that govern agricultural operations and employment is critical to reducing unintentional violations of workplace safety and labor laws. Cooperative Extension can provide the training needed to professionalize this vital and diverse workforce. One challenge to providing adult education to a wide-ranging audience of labor contractors, crew leaders, and farm managers is implementing a program that meets varied needs and expectations and adapts to linguistic and cultural differences. This study combined quantitative and qualitative methods to measure learning and satisfaction in a bilingual Extension training program and to evaluate the relationship between educational outcomes and program components. The study found that attendees of both the English and Spanish trainings rated the quality of their experience as either high or very high regarding the intensity of learning, the likelihood of implementing what was learned, and their overall satisfaction with the program. Furthermore, post-test scores were significantly higher than pre-test scores for both groups. Nonetheless, English training attendees had significantly higher post-test scores than Spanish training attendees. The study concluded that successful agricultural educational program implementation is tied to adaptive teaching, staffing, and logistical strategies that respond to multicultural realities yet maintain pedagogical standards.

This article outlines a four-step model for developing a training program for farm labor supervisors. The model draws on key lessons learned during the development of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Farm Labor Supervisor Training program. The program is designed to educate farm supervisors on farm labor laws and to support compliance with workplace regulations critical for the safety of farmworkers and the economic sustainability of agricultural industries. Attentive to building partnerships, assessing needs, tailoring the curriculum, and conducting evaluations, the model can be applied elsewhere to address the farm labor issues confronted by specialty crop growers in other states.

The Microbiology and Cell Science (MCS) Department at the University of Florida (UF) developed a new model of a 2 + 2 program that uses a hybrid online approach to bring its science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curriculum to students. In this paradigm, 2-year graduates transfer as online students into the Distance Education in MCS (DE MCS) bachelor of science program. The program has broadened access to STEM with a steadily increasing enrollment that does not draw students away from existing on-campus programs. Notably, half of the DE MCS students are from underrepresented minority (URM) backgrounds and two-thirds are women, which represents a greater level of diversity than the corresponding on-campus cohort and the entire university. Additionally, the DE MCS cohort has comparable retention and academic performance compared with the on-campus transfer cohort. Of those who have earned a BS through the DE MCS program, 71% are women and 61% are URM. Overall, these data demonstrate that the hybrid online approach is successful in increasing diversity and provides another viable route in the myriad of STEM pathways. As the first of its kind in a STEM field, the DE MCS program serves as a model for programs seeking to broaden their reach.

Florida has one of the most diverse agricultural economies in the United States, producing several dozen types of fruits and vegetables that are consumed within the state, across the country, and around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting policy responses occurred during the peak of spring harvest season for many crops in Florida, abruptly removing market demand from the food service industry and shifting consumer purchasing habits, which enabled insights into several aspects of the fruit and vegetable supply chain. This article examines how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted fruit and vegetable industries in Florida, how these industries responded to COVID-19 impacts, and how Florida's experience compared to that of other states. Data are derived from several sources including a statewide survey that measured agricultural production losses in Florida resulting from COVID-19 in early 2020, interviews with Florida operations that provided insights into how the pandemic induced change across the food supply chain, and a survey of food supply chain operations in three regions of the United States conducted in 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Consolidating and quantifying information facilitates economic planning for decision making in terms of industrial development at the territorial level in an integrated manner. Objective: To propose a procedure for the projection of the development of the sugar industry in a territory based on the intersectoral balance. Materials and Methods: A procedure is proposed to carry out the intersectoral balance in a territory that facilitates the elaboration of the Leontief matrix. A database "Camagüey Database" is presented in Microsoft Access which, based on the economic survey of each municipality, the units that act in the economy and the demands and deliveries of resources, provides the necessary data for the development of the intersectoral balances. Results and Discussion: The procedure is applied in the territory of Florida where the Central "Agramonte" and the Sorbitol Company are located, belonging to the sugar industry, in function of the territorial industrial development, which facilitates productive linkages and planning between economic sectors. It is defined and quantified the demands and deliveries at 100% compliance of the different sectors that interact for the production of Sorbitol at maximum design capacity. Conclusions: The intersectoral balances allow analyzing the necessary quantities to be produced of each of the products, by-products and derivatives, in correspondence with the demands of other sectors, to guarantee the development of the territory. The results facilitate decision making for a higher development of the municipality in the context of a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine and describe fatal and non-fatal agricultural injuries documented in Florida. We used Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) data and AgInjuryNews.org (AIN) data from 2015 through 2019 to identify 48 fatal and 187 non-fatal injuries during the five-year study period, with 86% (40 fatal, 175 non-fatal) of these injuries being occupational. A total of 101 (43%) people were injured as a result of transportation incidents. Major injury sources were vehicles (46%) and environmental sources (heat, lightning, etc.) (14%). Using AIN data, we identified risks for youth under the age of 18 and for individuals age 65 and older. This study suggests the need for additional injury surveillance efforts to gather demographic information to identify at-risk populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Misperceptions surrounding the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine can lead some vaccinated individuals to resist being tested and treated for tuberculosis (TB). Educational messages to best explain the risk of TB to BCG-vaccinated, Hispanic persons were systematically developed and tested. First, TB program staff provided messages they considered effective. These were analyzed and validated by TB experts, and then presented in group interviews initially to foreign-born Hispanic persons with a TB diagnosis, and then persons without a prior TB diagnosis. Based on interviewees' feedback, preferred statements were used to develop one long and three short comprehensive messages. One-on-one interviews were conducted with Hispanic persons to assess the saliency of the comprehensive educational messages. Participants preferred messages that were gain or positively-framed and explained that BCG does not confer lifelong protection against TB. Participants confirmed the messages would likely have a positive impact on patient decisions to undergo TB testing and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With scientific consensus regarding the occurrence of climate variability and climate change it is clear that farmers can benefit from science-based adaptation strategies for managing climate-related risk. To this end, cooperative extension professionals must engage in climate training events that are carefully planned and tailored to their specific needs. This study consisted of 50 interviews with extension professionals from four states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina) and collected information about the perceptions of climate variability and change as well as the preferred approaches for climate-related training in extension. Results include the need for accessible, climate-related training that prepares extension professionals to: understand both management- and technology-related adaptation strategies, engage in productive conversations with all stakeholders, and participate in the coproduction of knowledge related to climate issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leg edema is a common problem in the elderly and requires further evaluation and management. Method: From October 1990 to July 1992, 245 patients presented to the Cleveland Clinic Florida with leg edema. All patients were counseled about the benefits of twenty-minute, three-times-a-day raised-leg exercises. Fifty seven (57) of the 245 patients were not compliant with this regimen (nonexercise group). Although not true controls, they formed a comparison group for those who performed the exercise regimen. The exercise group was composed of 188 patients with a mean age of 73 ±6.8 years, 25 (13%) men and 163 (87%) women; the nonexercise group was composed of 57 patients with a mean age of 71.9 ±4.3, 19 (33%) men and 38 (67%) women. Workup for leg edema included: comprehensive history, clinical examination including prostate or pelvic examination, complete blood count, chemistry profile, thyroid profile, electrocardiogram, chest radiograph, and, when indicated, pelvic or leg ultrasound and pelvic computed tomographic scan. The circumference of the leg with the maximum amount of edema was measured initially and on the fourth week. Results: In this study, the common causes of leg edema in the elderly population were venous stasis (63.2%), drug induced (13.8%), and heart failure (15.1%). Postphlebitic syndrome, cirrhosis, lymphedema, lipedema, prostate carcinoma (CA), and ovarian mass were the less frequent findings. Upon comparison of the circumference of leg edema on initial visit and four weeks after, both the exercise and nonexercise groups showed significant decreases in the measurement of the leg edema (P < .001) except those caused by lymphedema. The amount of change when compared between those who exercised and those who did not was significant only in venous stasis. Conclusion: Causes of leg edema in the elderly are multiple. Twenty-minute, three-times-a-day raised-leg exercises were significantly more effective in the management of leg edema due to venous stasis (P < 0.0001) but did not produce significant differences in other etiologies such as heart failure, drug induced, and other conditions, which include lymphedema, prostate and ovarian CA, and postphlebitic syndrome. Successful management of leg edema is based on adequate and thorough assessment to identify the cause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because farm labor supervisors (FLSs) are responsible for ensuring safe work environments for thousands of workers, providing them with adequate knowledge is critical to preserving worker health. Yet a challenge to offering professional training to FLSs, many of whom are foreign-born and have received different levels of education in the US and abroad, is implementing a program that not only results in knowledge gains but meets the expectations of a diverse audience. By offering bilingual instruction on safety and compliance, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) FLS Training program is helping to improve workplace conditions and professionalize the industry. A recent evaluation of the program combined participant observation and surveys to elicit knowledge and satisfaction levels from attendees of its fall 2012 trainings. Frequency distributions and dependent- and independent-meanst-tests were used to measure and compare participant outcomes. The evaluation found that attendees rated the quality of their training experience as either high or very high and scored significantly better in posttraining knowledge tests than in pretraining knowledge tests across both languages. Nonetheless, attendees of the trainings delivered in English had significantly higher posttest scores than attendees of the trainings delivered in Spanish. As a result, the program has incorporated greater standardization of content delivery and staff development. Through assessment of its program components and educational outcomes, the program has documented its effectiveness and offers a replicable approach that can serve to improve the targeted outcomes of safety and health promotion in other states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Although eye injuries are common among citrus harvesters, the proportion of workers using protective eyewear has been negligible. We focused on adoption of worker-tested safety glasses with and without the presence and activities of trained peer-worker role models on harvesting crews. Methods. Observation of 13 citrus harvesting crews established baseline use of safety eyewear. Nine crews subsequently were assigned a peer worker to model use of safety glasses, conduct eye safety education, and treat minor eye injuries. Safety eyewear use by crews was monitored up to 15 weeks into the intervention. Results. Intervention crews with peer workers had significantly higher rates of eyewear use than control crews. Intervention exposure time and level of worker use were strongly correlated. Among intervention crews, workers with 1 to 2 years of experience (odds ratio [OR]=2.89; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.11, 7.55) and who received help from their peer worker (OR=3.73; 95% CI=1.21, 11.57) were significantly more likely to use glasses than were other intervention crew members. Conclusions. Adaptation of the community health worker model for this setting improved injury prevention practices and may have relevance for similar agricultural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the variability in quality and outcomes of clients' experience with the CES in Florida. Its purpose is to explore this variability, within a Total Quality Management framework, across different types of contact, namely telephone calls, office visits, and planned programs. Customer satisfaction data collected from 2003 to 2007 was used for the analysis. Type of contact had a statistically significant effect on both the quality perceived by the clients and the outcomes from their experiences. Recommendations are made to improve the relevance and timely delivery of the information provided by Extension through different types of contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented which is concerned with reducing nursing home polypharmacy using systematic medication and assessment review and tracking.

An abstract of the presentation "Florida Farm to School Partnership - Statewide Program Planning Workshop" by Lauren Headrick and colleagues is presented.

Objective To investigate the impacts of the Farm to School (FTS) Program on the selection and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Design Plate waste data were recorded using the visual inspection method before and after implementation of the program. Setting Six elementary schools in Florida: 3 treatment and 3 control schools. Participants A total of 11,262 meal observations of National School Lunch Program (NSLP) participants in grades 1–5. Intervention The FTS Program , specifically local procurement of NSLP offerings, began in treatment schools in November, 2015 after the researchers collected preintervention data. Main Outcome Measures The NSLP participants' selection and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Analysis Data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U and proportions tests and difference-in-difference regressions. Results The NSLP participants at the treatment schools consumed, on average, 0.061 ( P  = .002) more servings of vegetables and 0.055 ( P  = .05) more servings of fruit after implementation of the FTS Program . When school-level fixed effects are included, ordinary least squares and tobit regression results indicated that NSLP participants at the treatment schools respectively consumed 0.107 ( P  < .001) and 0.086 ( P  < .001) more servings of vegetables, on average, after implementation of the FTS Program . Conclusions and Implications Local procurement positively affected healthy eating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]