By Clint Thompson Like the rest of the Southeast, North Florida has been impacted by excessive rains over the past week, dating back to last Friday. It has impacted the region’s watermelon crop, which has just started being harvested. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, talked …
FFVA Issues Statement Following Farmworker Bus Crash
The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) issued a statement following Tuesday morning’s fatal bus crash involving Florida farmworkers in west Marion County. “We were devastated to learn of Tuesday morning’s fatal crash involving a bus transporting farmworkers, and all of us at the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) are lifting these individuals and their families in our prayers,” …
Save the Date: Florida Ag Labor Relations Forum Scheduled for Aug. 28-30
Florida specialty crop producers and industry leaders should mark their calendars for the annual Florida Ag Labor Relations Forum, scheduled for Aug. 28-30 at the Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bennet Creek. The Florida Specialty Crop Foundation is presenting the 50th annual forum, which will educate agricultural employers, including producers, shippers, farm labor contractors, and other employers about compliance with agricultural …
Powdery Mildew Observed in North Florida Watermelons
By Clint Thompson Powdery mildew disease has been observed in North Florida watermelons. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, confirmed the disease’s presence in an email this week, though most fields have not yet shown signs of the disease. “The disease is in its initial stages …
UF/IFAS Researchers Work to Make Beer Hops a Viable Florida Crop
Although plenty of Florida’s craft brewers advertise their libations as brewed with state-grown ingredients, a vital ingredient – hops – is not readily available within the Sunshine State. A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) study currently underway, however, may help pave the way for a robust crop of Florida-grown hops. UF/IFAS researchers believe they have …
Shaping Up: North Florida Melon Harvests Less Than Two Weeks Away
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon producers are less than two weeks away from harvesting this year’s crop. For some growers, it may be even sooner than that, believes Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “There’s lots of volleyball size watermelons out there. The crop is …
Mango Season Taking Shape: UF/IFAS Experts Offer Views
The 2023 mango season erupted with an abundance of fruit last year. Will that be the case for 2024? What can researchers tell mango devotees as the early signs of fruiting begin to show? It is a busy time for two experts at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) in Homestead, as they begin to …
May 9 Workshop to Explore Opportunities for Tropical Fruit Production in Florida
What conditions are ideal for farmers to successfully grow tropical fruit in different regions of Florida? Scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) say this question is at the root of concern for them as they communicate with new and potential growers who are not aware of a bigger problem at stake. Way too …
Florida Blueberry Producer Discusses Season
By Clint Thompson Florida blueberry producer Ryan Atwood would not classify this year as a bumper crop. But it was not a bad crop, either. It was somewhere in the middle. The Mount Dora, Florida, producer discussed this season as harvests continue to wind down across the state. “I always tell people it’s a five-year average. You’ve got good years, …
Update on Florida Ag Legislation and Budget Presented
By Maegan Beatty In mid-April, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted the 9th annual Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma. The conference examines critical policy issues facing agribusiness leaders and provides economic insights. Participants heard from policymakers, key stakeholders and expert researchers on the farm …