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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Florida”
Plant City, FL – Chuck Hollenkamp, Wish Farms Director of Strawberry Grower Relations, was honored with the Florida Strawberry Growers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual gala. This prestigious recognition celebrated Hollenkamp’s four decades of leadership and dedication to the Florida strawberry industry. “Chuck’s ability to build lasting relationships and his steady leadership have been instrumental to our success,” …
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon farmers are on the cusp of another planting season. They are currently planning for next year’s crop. Part of that planning stage was attending the recent Suwanee Valley Watermelon Institute. Mark Warren, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension agent in Levy County, helped organize the event this year in …
Drought conditions continue to improve across the Southeast, according to the Dec. 24 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. The driest area in the region is still observed in South Georgia and North Florida. Extreme drought conditions in South Georgia include parts of Decatur, Grady, Thomas and Brooks counties. Extreme drought conditions in North Florida include all or parts of …
By Clint Thompson As soon as North Florida watermelon producers can get their plants in the ground, the sooner they can harvest their crop amid a tight marketing window. So, it has been no surprise to see so many farmers start their planting seasons earlier and earlier in recent years. But that has been the case and will likely happen again …
By Clint Thompson Fusarium wilt remains a challenge for watermelon producers in North Florida and South Georgia. Grafting is a way for growers to navigate its challenge, says Josh Freeman, regional sales manager with TriEst Ag Group. “If you take markets aside, markets come and go, but fusarium, that’s not going to change. In my opinion, varietal resistance is not …
By Clint Thompson University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are continuing their studies in paper mulch with respect to watermelon production in the Southeast. Its development is important for a region that depends heavily on watermelon production. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, …
By Frank Giles America’s farm and food policy is a complicated business. It is a constantly shifting landscape, especially under President Trump’s tariff-driven approach. To stay up to date on these matters, I recommend following the work of Daniel Munch, economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). He has spoken at a couple of AgNet Media events and always …
By Clint Thompson One Florida watermelon industry expert believes South Florida’s production succeeded this fall, due in large part to minimal whitefly pressure and zero tropical system impact. Laura Land, member of the executive council of the Florida Watermelon Association, talked about South Florida’s season during the Suwanee Valley Watermelon Institute on Dec. 4. “I think they had a good …
By Clint Thompson Heavy rains during the Dec. 6-7 weekend reduced some of the drought being experienced across the Southeast. According to the Dec. 11 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, there are not any exceptional drought areas across South Georgia and North Florida. Those areas are still highlighted by extreme drought designations. Georgia Extreme drought in South Georgia includes …
By Shinsuke Agehara University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research shows that intermittent sprinkler irrigation has great potential to establish Florida strawberries more efficiently — saving water while potentially boosting yield. Most Florida strawberries are established from “bare-root” transplants. They are dug out of nursery fields, often in northern California or Canada, and shipped to Florida …
