The University of Florida/IFAS Extension and USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service hosted a field day on April 1st in Jefferson County, Florida. The program called "Discover the Cover" demonstrated the effectiveness of high-residue cover crops in conjunction with the typical row crops grown in North Florida, such as corn, peanuts, cotton, and soybean. The benefits of actively managed cover crops are many, including improved soil health, erosion prevention, conservation of soil moisture, and reduced runoff from heavy rain events. In short, the cover crops help make dryland farming more resistant to climate variations, such as heavy rainfall events and periods of drought during the growing season. Many of the participants are also involved with the "Tri-State Climate Working Group for Row Crop Farmers." State Climatologist David Zierden attended the field day and discussed management strategies for the cover crops based on seasonal climate forecasts and El Niño/La Niña variability.

State Climatologist David Zierden and Assistant State Climatologist Melissa Griffin attended a technical advisory group (TAG) meeting for their collaborative effort with the Florida Department of Health (DOH) on their multi-year Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's project called Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE). The TAG meeting, held in Orlando on April 15th, included an update on current research within the project, along with technical presentations on Florida's climate, information on the possibility of an El Niño Winter, current data available through climate modeling, hazard and health profiles, and a review of other state adaptation plans. As the project enters its second year, the Florida Climate Center will continue to support the DOH in obtaining and using of climate data and information.

The National Academy of Sciences Board on Atmospheric Science and Climate (BASC) met at Florida State University on April 22nd and 23rd. This advisory board holds one of their meeting each year at a prominent university to stay in tune with the latest academic research and applications. This year's meeting at FSU was spearheaded by former University President Eric Barron, who was also a former board chairman. Those on the board included chairman Antonio Busalacchi, an FSU alumnus, and David Robinson, New Jersey State Climatologist. 

FSU faculty and graduate students presented research on a variety of topics, including climate variability and climate change, extreme events such as extratropical cyclones and hurricanes, and lightning. The Florida Climate Center presented in a session on regional climate services. In that session, State Climatologist David Zierden gave an overview of the Florida Climate Center and how we provide climate services at the local and state level, focusing on stakeholder interactions. Assistant State Climatologist Melissa Griffin presented on education and outreach of weather and climate science through a host of different projects.