Attitudes and Opinions

Opinion Leadership and the Perceived Health Benefits of Local Food

Layne S. Marshall, Melissa R. Taylor, and Alexa J. Lamm

Opinion Leadership and the Perceived Economics of Local Food

Layne S. Marshall, Melissa R. Taylor, and Alexa J. Lamm

Attitudes and Perceptions of Agricultural Water Use in Florida Expressed by the General Public and Local Officials

Courtney T. Owens, Alexa J. Lamm, and Ricky W. Telg

Farmers' Opinions about Bird Conservation and Pest Management on Organic and Conventional North Florida Farms

Susan K. Jacobson, Kathryn E. Sieving, Greg Jones, John McElroy, Beida Chen, Mark E. Hostetler, and Sarah W. Miller

Centering and Engaging Farmers in Technology Development to Facilitate Innovation Adoption: Designing Your Approach

Shiala M. Naranjo and Kathryn A. Stofer

Researchers, engineers, scientists, and program designers can use the information from this publication to engage better with farmers and to ensure programs and products from research are beneficial and easily adopted. This publication shares background on the importance of engagement and several high-level strategies for consideration as you approach engagement, especially for the first time, illustrated by the work of the IoT4Ag Center. Overall, the strategies center the farmer, addressing how to design engagement around audience needs, understand externalities, and determine shared values, highlighted by a case study of how engagement has gone wrong. Written by Shiala M. Naranjo and Kathryn A. Stofer, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, September 2025.

Floridians’ Perceptions of Heat-Related Illnesses (HRI)

Ashley McLeod-Morin, Astrid Ericson, Karlibeth Leitheiser, Angela B. Lindsey, Lisa Lundy, Ricky Telg, and Tracy Irani

This publication describes Florida residents’ perceptions of heat-related illnesses (HRI), their perceived knowledge about HRI, and trusted sources when seeking information about HRI. This resource was developed to help Extension faculty better understand how Florida residents think about rising temperatures and HRI so they can better support their clientele through education and communication. Written by Ashley McLeod-Morin, Astrid Ericson, Karlibeth Leitheiser, Angela B. Lindsey, Lisa Lundy, Ricky Telg, and Tracy Irani, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, January 2026.

US Food Shopper Trends in 2018

Suraj Gurung, Lijun Angelia Chen, Sungeun Yoon, and Lisa House

To gain insights into US consumers’ food-related perspectives, we examined their food and beverage preferences and consumption patterns in parallel with those identified in 2017. Using a nationwide sample of 6,412 primary food shoppers in 2018, we assessed consumer perspectives regarding food shopping outlets, responses to food price increases, grocery expenditures, food-related attitudes, food and beverage consumption patterns, and nutritional perceptions. Last, we compared consumer trends in 2018 with those in 2017 to identify any changes over time.

Public Perceptions of Pollinator Perfection

Vashti Tatman, Adeyinka Ayodele, Laura Warner, Jaret Daniels, Ricky Telg, and Angela Lindsey

The study discussed in this publication was conducted to gauge public perceptions and identify ways to increase support for pollinator-friendly roadsides. The purpose of this publication is to provide results from this study specifically to increase understanding of public perceptions of pollinator-friendly roadsides. Written by Vashti Tatman, Adeyinka Ayodele, Laura Warner, Jaret Daniels, Ricky Telg, and Angela Lindsey, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, August 2025.

How Do Floridians Perceive Their Role in Protecting Water Quality and Quantity Through Landscape Practices?

Laura A. Sanagorski Warner, Alexa J. Lamm, and Anil Kumar Chaudhary

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: ==Water==

Navigating Public Perceptions: Exploring the Complex Social Dynamics of Invasive Species Management in Public Waters

Amanda Heinzmann, Olesya M. Savchenko, Candice Prince, and James Leary

In this publication, we present an overview of stakeholder concerns regarding hydrilla management, synthesizing insights gathered from the largest state-wide survey of Florida residents about invasive aquatic plant management in the state’s public waters. Our objective is to equip decision-makers, including agencies like FWC, with valuable insights. By understanding stakeholder concerns, decision-makers can formulate policies for the effective management of aquatic invasive species that garner public support.

Communicating About Water in the Floridan Aquifer Region: Part 6—Stakeholders’ Mental Models of Regional Water Challenges

Sadie Hundemer and Shenara Ramadan

If we could look into the minds of agricultural producers and environmentalists to see how they think about regional water challenges, we may be better able to help stakeholders understand each other’s perspectives and resolve perceived conflicts. A 2017–2018 study provides visual maps of producers’ and environmentalists’ conceptions of the relationship between water and the regional economy. The maps reveal that the groups think about the topic in fundamentally different ways. While surveyed producers possess an agricultural, operational-level view of the water-economic system that includes the protective actions taken by individual farmers and ranchers, environmentalists possess a watershed-level view of the water-economic system that highlights the detrimental collective impacts of the agricultural industry as a whole. The findings suggest steps that water communicators can take to reduce perceived conflict between the groups.

Conservation Subdivision: Post-construction Phase—Policy Directions and the Importance of Assessing Stakeholder Opinions

Daniel Feinberg and Mark Hostetler

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Informed community decision-making

Resources and Strategies to Build Vaccine Confidence among Adults

Kathryn A. Stofer, Alissa V. Katsaras, Skye Dougan, Miranda Jones, and LaToya J. O’Neal

As Extension continues to expand its purview in adult immunization education, it should provide strategies for communicating one-on-one and in smaller and larger groups, as well as links to resources to build confidence and promote access for adults who have lower confidence in or who may face barriers to vaccination in Florida. This publication is part of the Adult Vaccination in Florida series which examines the general trends in and reasons behind adult perceptions of vaccination. Written by Kathryn A. Stofer, Alissa V. Katsaras, Skye Dougan, Miranda Jones, and LaToya J. O’Neal, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, April 2025.

Intercultural Competencies: Value Orientation Theory

Pablo Lamino, John Diaz, Laura Valencia, and Jaehyun Ahn

This second publication in the Intercultural Competencies series examines the implications of value orientation theory for Extension work in Florida agriculture, providing practical recommendations for developing intercultural competence and program effectiveness. Written by Pablo Lamino, John Diaz, Laura Valencia, and Jaehyun Ahn, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, April 2025.

Communicating About Water in the Floridan Aquifer Region: Part 3—How the Right Messages and Messengers Can Increase Bipartisan Support for Water Policy

Sadie Hundemer and Shenara Ramadan

When water policies are introduced, they may not be universally supported. One stakeholder group or political party may be “for” the policy and contend that the public should vote “yes.” They may argue that the policy is fair to the parties involved or that it shows loyalty to affected communities. These are moral arguments used to sway public support. An opposing stakeholder group or political party may also issue moral arguments “against” the policy. They may argue that the public should vote “no” because the policy is not fair or is disloyal to impacted communities. In competitive policy scenarios like these, at least two factors affect public support for the policy – moral arguments and the identities of the communicators. Understanding how each of these factors influences policy preferences is key to creating a communication that is conducive to broad public support.