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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Florida”
By Frank Giles When President Trump appointed Robert Kennedy Jr. to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), it was a clear signal that it would not be business as usual at the agency charged with “improving the health, safety and well-being of America.” With a budget of about $2 trillion, HHS has significant sway in American …
By Clint Thompson The Southeast region continues to observe expansion of extreme drought throughout North Florida and South Florida, along with South Georgia. This is according to the Feb. 19 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Florida Extreme conditions in the Florida Panhandle start as far west in Walton and Holmes counties, stretching eastward to Nassau, Duval and Saint Johns …
By Clint Thompson Potential disease buildup in the short term and long term is a concern for Florida blueberry growers coping with the aftermath of the recent freeze event. Short-term concerns deal mostly with botrytis. Long-term impacts deal with stem blight, explained Phil Harmon, professor and Extension plant pathologist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, …
As growers surveyed fields and groves after the freeze in late January and early February, it was clear the damage had been catastrophic in many cases. That was confirmed by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson with the first estimate of damage released on Feb 20. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) preliminary estimates of losses to Florida …
Registration is now open for the 2026 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, set for Aug. 12–13 at the waterfront Caloosa Sound Convention Center in downtown Fort Myers. The Expo has earned a reputation as a top event for commercial producers. The event brings together citrus and specialty crop growers, allied industry companies, researchers and industry leaders for two days of …
WASHINGTON — The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) issued the following statement regarding the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 released by House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson. “The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance commends Chairman Thompson and his staff for advancing the farm bill process and including key provisions that would enhance the competitiveness …
By Clint Thompson Florida citrus growers hoping to expedite the recovery process for trees impacted by the late January/early February freeze event should pump the brakes and wait — at least until spring. That advice is from Muhammad Shahid, assistant professor of horticulture at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). He shared tree recovery recommendations …
By Clint Thompson Freeze damage to Florida citrus could lead to a buildup in certain diseases. One, in particular, is a major threat, believes Megan Dewdney, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor in plant pathology and Extension specialist. “Our big concern in terms of foliar problems is going to be melanose. Just as a …
By Clint Thompson Extreme drought conditions in North Florida have led to advisories issued for water conservation. It’s a key development for growers who are preparing to plant watermelons in the Suwanee Valley Region. But the biggest concern is the current dry conditions could only worsen over the next couple of months. “I think the biggest concern is that we’re …
The Florida Citrus Show is just a month away, scheduled for March 12. The event will be held at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce. The seminar program offers a wealth of educational opportunities, and …
