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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Florida”
By Clint Thompson Much will be on the ballot when voters flock to the polls for the mid-term elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3. For Floridians, it will present an opportunity to vote on Amendment 2, which could significantly impact the state’s row crop and specialty crop growers. Amendment 2 is a proposed amendment to Florida’s Constitution and addresses tangible personal …
By Clint Thompson Natural disasters are unfortunately a common occurrence in the Southeast, especially in Florida. The Sunshine State can experience most any type of natural disaster event in any given year. These range from the annual threat of tropical storm or hurricane to the generational freeze event that crippled the state earlier this year. No matter what event that …
Whitefly populations remain high in some areas across southern Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. In central Florida, scouts are reporting low to moderate population levels in tomatoes and moderate to high levels in squash and cucumbers. Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus incidence remains a little more than 1%. Whitefly populations vary by crop and location …
By Clint Thompson Much-needed rainfall continues to alleviate some of the drought being experienced across the Southeast. This is according to the Oct. 22 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Florida All of the Florida Panhandle has sufficient moisture, while most of North Florida has abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions. All of the counties along the east coast in …
By Clint Thompson Long-term management of Neopestalotiopsis (Neo) disease in strawberries may hinge on research breeders developing new varieties that are resistant to the disease. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, is especially encouraged by the progress of new cultivars being developed in the Southeast. “There is some research now coming out of Florida and …
By Frank Giles One of the critical elements in the specialty crop supply chain is transportation. Getting produce from the fields to the packinghouse and then to consumers is an important part of the process. Over the past couple of years, there has been increased scrutiny of trucking and those who hold commercial driver licenses (CDLs). This has been driven …
The work of Southeastern blueberry breeders is paying off with a lot of options for growers to diversify their plantings. Here are some of the newer selections being featured by two breeding programs. Florida Selections The University of Florida (UF) Blueberry Breeding Program has released many cultivars over the years with desirable characteristics, pleasing consumers and helping commercial growers be …
By Clint Thompson Two straight weekends of rainfall, highlighted by last week’s Hurricane Isaias, have alleviated some of the drought being observed across the Southeast, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Georgia Much of South Georgia is drought free, extending from Seminole and Early counties in the southwest corner of the state northeastward to Jenkins, Burke and Richmond counties. The …
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced this week that Florida farmers, ranchers, and growers impacted by Hurricane Isaias can apply for interest-free loans through the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. Eligible agriculture and aquaculture producers can apply for loans of up to $500,000 to restore, repair or replace essential physical property, including fences, equipment, …
Pest Alert: Ghost Snail (Bulimulus bonariensis) Bulimulus snails, sometimes called ghost or peanut snails, have increasingly become problematic for growers. The snails are an invasive species native to Central and South America and the Caribbean. They likely arrived in the United States on more than one occasion and from multiple locations. Where Is It? The snail was initially recognized as …
