Attention Blueberry Producers: Diseases to Consider This Time of Year

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida

By Clint Thompson The calendar says it’s the end of November, which means it is prime time for Florida blueberry producers to manage potential disease buildup in next year’s crop. Phil Harmon, professor and Extension plant pathologist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, highlighted a few that growers should be mindful of this time of …

Management Options for Florida Blueberry Growers in November

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida

Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, is advising blueberry growers about management options they need to consider during November. Producers should continue monitoring and managing leaf diseases, especially in evergreen systems. It is the time for blueberry farmers to begin monitoring for blueberry gall midge. They can use bucket traps (3 …

Georgia Blueberry Producer Expects 40% of Crop in 2025

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Georgia

By Clint Thompson Georgia’s blueberry industry suffered a $52 million impact following Hurricane Helene. An additional $150 million impact could also be realized with future quality losses. Preliminary estimates for the economic impact of Hurricane Helene topped $6 billion, according to totals released last week by the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). Russ Goodman, …

Blueberry Disease Management Recommendations After Hurricane Helene

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Georgia

Hurricane Helene left devastation in its wake following its trek through Georgia on Sept. 27. One of the main crops impacted were blueberries. Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist, noted in the UGA Blueberry Extension Blog that blueberry disease management should be a focus of blueberry producers moving forward. “In areas that got a …

Hurricane Milton Impact: Florida Blueberry Bushes Survive Latest Storm

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida

By Clint Thompson Initial assessments of Florida blueberry bushes following Hurricane Milton last week indicate some impact across impacted areas – but nothing catastrophic. Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, talked with a handful of producers immediately following the storm’s trek across Florida. He compared it to a previous hurricane that …

Florida Blueberry Management Tips for September

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida

Florida blueberry management is a year-round job for the state’s growers. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) provides producers with reminders about what management options they need to remember for September. Producers should be actively scouting for algal stem blotch as well as monitor and manage leaf diseases. On farms where there is active management …

Florida Blueberry Producers Bracing for Peak Tropical Season

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida

By Clint Thompson An active tropical season this fall is concerning for Florida’s blueberry growers. According to Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, this time of year is when blueberry bushes are most vulnerable. Unfortunately, this is also the time of year when Florida experiences a bulk of hurricane activity. “In …

Florida Blueberries ‘Dodged a Bullet’ with Hurricane Debby

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida

By Clint Thompson Florida’s blueberry crop emerged unscathed following Hurricane Debby’s trek through the region on Aug. 5, according to Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator. “Things are looking good. I talked to guys in each of the three regions; north, central and south. Very few plants were blown over, a …

Blueberry Cultivars: UF/IFAS Breeder Discusses New Releases

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida

By Clint Thompson Florida blueberry producers will soon have a couple of new cultivar options to consider for future seasons. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry breeder Patricio Munoz confirmed that two new cultivars will soon be available. These include “Falcon” or FL17-141 and FL19-006. He highlighted Falcon first. “It’s very high yield and highly …

What’s Next? Florida Blueberry Farmer Concerned About Future Tropical Systems Following Hurricane Debby

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida

By Clint Thompson Hurricane Debby was bad enough for Florida’s specialty crop producers, especially with its excessive rains. One blueberry grower is concerned about what may follow, as some of his blueberry bushes remain under water. “The problem you get with these things is what happens next week? They’re showing more tropical activity. They’re saying over the next couple of …