South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline: Bacterial Spot Disease on Rise

Web AdminDisease, Florida, Leafy Greens

Bacterial spot disease is on the rise in plantings in southern Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Moderate levels of bacterial spot were reported in older plantings in central Florida. There have also been increases in bacterial spot, mostly on tomato crops, but also on susceptible pepper varieties in southwest Florida. Overall levels are normal or …

South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline: Caterpillar Pressure Increasing

Web AdminFlorida, Pest Management, Pests

Caterpillar pressure is low but increasing across areas in southern Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Low worm activity was reported in central Florida. Worm pressure varies depending on crop and location in southwest Florida. Low to moderate levels of beet armyworms, southern armyworms, fall armyworms, loopers, hornworms, melonworms and fruitworms are being reported, with beet …

Crop Insurance Deadline Is Nov. 20 For Florida Blueberries and Whole-Farm Revenue Protection

Web AdminBlueberries, Florida

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Florida blueberry producers that the deadline to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2024 crop year is Nov. 20. Growers who are interested in the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection policy and are late fiscal year filers have until Nov. 20 to apply for crop insurance. Current policyholders who wish …

Registration Open for Florida Lettuce Advisory Committee Meeting

Web AdminEvents, Florida, Leafy Vegetables

Registration remains open for the in-person Lettuce Advisory Committee meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade, Florida. The scheduled topics include discussions on the lettuce mosaic virus, a coordinated disaster damage assessment and FSMA (Food …

South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline: Whitefly Pressure Low but Increasing in Some Areas

Web AdminFlorida, Pests

Whitefly pressure is normal for this time of year in Southwest Florida and low in other areas but increasing, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Populations are low but increasing in central Florida and along the East coast. Whitefly pressure varies in the Southwest Florida region, though it is considered normal for this time of the year. …

Season in Review: Blueberry Growers Can Learn More About Last Year During Annual Conference

Web AdminEvents, Florida

By Clint Thompson One of the featured presentations at the upcoming Florida Blueberry Growers Association Fall Conference and Trade Show will be a recap of the past season as well as what producers can look forward to next year with regards to pest and disease management and labor concerns. Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences …

Chilli Thrips: Primary Pest of Florida Blueberries

Web AdminBlueberries, Florida, Pests

By Oscar Liburd and Doug Phillips Over the past few years, chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) have become the most important insect pest of Florida blueberries, causing substantial injury to plant foliage and typically requiring significant and costly chemical control measures. Chilli thrips have been an economically important pest of vegetable, fruit and ornamental crops throughout Asia, Africa, Oceania the Caribbean …

Drought Impact: Northeast Florida Experiencing Dry Conditions

Web AdminDrought, Florida, Weather

By Clint Thompson The lingering drought has spread across the Southeast and impacted various parts of Florida, specifically in the northeast part of the state. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, discusses the impact the dry weather is having in his area. “We’re very dry, and …

Thrips Update: Populations Vary in Central, Southern Florida

Web AdminFlorida, Pests

Thrips pressure is low across central and southern Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Scouts are observing low numbers in pepper in central Florida, with thrips only found in the bloom. Dak Seal, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences entomologist at the Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, Florida, reports low …

Brewers, Craft Beer Enthusiasts Reap Flavor of UF Hops Research

Web AdminFlorida

As you watch workers use chainsaws to cut down the bines of hop cones for this year’s fall harvest, you can almost sense the craft beer the hops will eventually produce. Last week, scientists at the University of Florida (UF) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), hosted about 50 brewers from across the state for the Fall Hops Field …