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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Florida”
By Kevin Barley As growers seek alternative crops, bamboo has been considered, especially on ground fallowed after citrus greening has taken out groves across the state of Florida. Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have been searching for viable alternative crops. In 2016, a small bamboo farming industry began developing in Florida, gaining …
Strawberry growers pour roughly $130 million a year, nationally, into a surprisingly stubborn problem: a part of the plant that sabotages fruit production. These fast-growing offshoots – called “runners” – stretch out from the mother plant, siphoning energy that would otherwise go into plump, market-ready berries. University of Florida doctoral student Kaitlyn Vondracek wants to help farmers solve this costly …
By Clint Thompson Not to have hurricanes or tropical storms to impact the Southeast last year was good news in that extensive damage was avoided in the region. But it was bad news in that the region missed out on rainfall which has spawned the current drought conditions in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. “In the summer in Georgia, I think …
By Clint Thompson A group of agricultural organizations, including the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) and Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), recently sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The letter focused on the current challenges with H-2A consular processing and what can be done to remedy the situation. “The H-2A program remains encumbered …
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon producers should be aware that squash bugs are active around the perimeter of fields. Growers and scouts need to look for individual adults and mating pairs, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “The squash bug adults overwinter in the …
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon producers have mostly dodged early-season diseases. That could change following recent rainfall and cooler temperatures earlier in the week. Growers must remain alert against disease buildup, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “It has been so dry, and we’ve …
By Clint Thompson Drought across the Southeast region continues to expand and worsen, according to the April 2 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. The driest part of the region is located in South Georgia and North Florida with exceptional drought conditions being reported. Extreme drought expands from South Georgia to the central part of the state, while the eastern …
By Clint Thompson Current dry conditions in the Southeast are not expected to improve in the short term, which is challenging news for producers who are preparing to plant or currently are planting their crops. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently released its spring outlook for climate conditions. Southeast growers must be aware that the prolonged drought may …
In this month’s sneak peek, the April issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine highlights Florida fourth-generation farmer BJ Wilkerson and how his farming family seeks to solve the sustainability puzzle. Wilkerson is based in Gilchrist County, grows watermelon and attributes long-term sustainability to multiple factors like crop diversification, crop rotation and grafting watermelon plants to combat fusarium wilt disease. The …
Are you craving a nutrient-packed bite to eat? The artichoke might just be your new super-snack, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher says. “Artichokes are not only a tasty vegetable, but they are also rich in nutrients that are good for our bodies,” said Tie Liu, an associate professor of horticultural sciences at UF/IFAS. …
