The cover story of the March issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine highlights whiteflies and how they can devastate vegetables with the viruses they transmit. Weather can contribute to the severity of whitefly infestations. In 2016 and 2017, weather conditions were hot and dry which led to whitefly populations spiraling out of control.
Multiple university researchers talked about the pest and how growers can successfully produce their crop amid the growing threat. This includes planting cultivars resistant to whitefly-transmitted viruses and utilizing reflective plastic mulches.
The Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference was held in Savannah, Georgia, in early January. The annual conference covered a wide range of topics, including new pesticide regulations, a Neopestalotiopsis disease update for strawberry growers, labor issues and watermelon fertilizer recommendations.
Can biodegradable mulches save labor and improve yields? A research team from various educational institutions have studied the potential of biodegradable mulch to lessen the environmental impact of plastics and reduce expenses for growers who normally have to remove and dispose of the material.
An official with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) outlines the new pre-harvest water rule. Diane Ducharme, a produce-safety expert with the FDA, spoke about the rule at the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference. The rule focuses on growing activities and includes anything where water is likely to come into contact with covered crops or contact surfaces of covered crops. The most obvious example is irrigation.
Video Component
The digital version of the Specialty Crop Grower Magazine includes different videos as well, covering the magazine’s content. For example, click here to learn more about whiteflies.