Sunbelt Agricultural Expo 2006
New UF Building Will Provide Permanent Presence
MOULTRIE, GA. --- Billed as the world’s largest farm show--featuring more than 1,200 exhibits and attracting more than 200,000 visitors--the 2006 Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition will include a new exhibit building for the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
The new building, which will feature more than twenty displays highlighting IFAS research and education programs, will be officially dedicated Oct. 17, at the beginning of the three-day event that runs through Oct. 19.
Jimmy Cheek, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, said the Sunbelt Ag Expo is the premier farm show in the world, and UF will now have a permanent presence at the annual event.
"The Sunbelt Ag Expo emphasizes information, education and implementation of the latest agricultural technology, research and equipment--providing an important venue for showcasing our teaching, research and extension programs," Cheek said.
Wayne Smith, professor and director emeritus of UF's School of Forest Resources and Conservation, said that the Sunbelt Ag Expo displays--which focus on managing and protecting water resources--will include information on programs to improve water quality in the 505,000-acre Everglades Agricultural Area, implement best management practices (BMPs) in the Suwannee River Basin, maintain forests as healthy watersheds, use reclaimed water from urban areas on agricultural crops, control irrigation systems with soil moisture sensors, grow crops with computer-controlled hydroponic systems and control aquatic weeds.
Other displays provide information on UF’s statewide Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) and AgClimate, a climate information system for the southeastern United States. Smith said both services are important for today’s precision agriculture.
Charlotte Emerson, director of recruitment and alumni services for UF's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), said the CALS display showcases the college as a national educational leader in the areas of pre-professional training, food, agriculture, natural resources and the life sciences.
"The display also shows how the many curricula available to CALS students are taught and advised by a distinguished faculty who are recognized nationally and internationally for their teaching, research and extension expertise," she said. "As a college known for its student-centered focus, CALS prides itself on educating society-ready graduates."
The Sunbelt Ag Expo is located on 1,680 acres, four miles southeast of U.S. Hwy 319 (Veteran’s Parkway) on Highway 133 near Moultrie, Georgia. Hours for the Sunbelt Ag Expo are 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 17 - 18) and 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Thursday (Oct. 19). Admission is $6 per person each day of the show. Children six years old and younger are admitted free with a parent.
Adapted from:
Read New UF Building at Sunbelt Agricultural Expo will Showcase IFAS Teaching, Research and Education Programs by Chuck Woods (9/2006).
Sunbelt Ag Expo Online
- Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition (UF Site)
- Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition (Official Site)
- Live Web Cams
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