By Clint Thompson Matt Parke’s anxiousness paid off this summer in preparing for the upcoming strawberry planting season. Instead of waiting to apply plastic, the farm manager of Parkesdale Farms in Plant City, Florida, decided to apply it early. Since that part of the state avoided the brunt of Hurricane Idalia last week, the move paid off and all the …
Rep. Kat Cammack, Sen. Rick Scott Tour Impacts of Major Hurricane Idalia in Levy County
CEDAR KEY, FL – Florida Representative Kat Cammack joined Senator Rick Scott, Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum, Cedar Key Police Chief Edwin Jenkins, and Cedar Key Mayor Heath Davis to tour impacts of Hurricane Idalia in Levy County on Friday and received an update on response and recovery efforts. Rep. Cammack and Senator Scott have traveled to impacted areas following …
Scouting Remains Vital Step in Pepper Weevil Control
By Clint Thompson Pepper weevils continue to be a nuisance for Florida vegetable growers. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) experts are providing guidance for producers on how to manage the pest. Jawwad Qureshi, associate professor of entomology at UF/IFAS, discussed the situation during the recent Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo. He emphasized that any management …
Gather Family, Friends for Tailgate, Complete with Florida-Grown Foods, UF/IFAS Cultivars
It’s game day. The excitement around stadiums is palpable. The college football season kicked off this weekend, and many fans enjoyed the company of family and friends while tailgating before and after the game. That meant food – lots of it. Tailgaters might think about eating some Florida-grown grub, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) experts …
Future of UF/IFAS Research Centers on AI
By Clint Thompson The future of research at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) focuses on artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in agriculture. UF/IFAS uses this argument when discussing funding for new faculty positions, says Rob Gilbert, interim senior vice president at UF/IFAS. “We’re able to get 15 faculty at IFAS, and part of …
Floods, Warm Temperatures Promote Mosquito Production
Extensive rains, flooding and scattered debris that hold water can lead to mosquito development. Eva Buckner, an Extension specialist at University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach, remains in close contact with many of Florida’s more than 65 mosquito control programs providing training, solutions and information on topics including mosquito …
Cover Crops Part of Management Strategy for Nematodes
By Clint Thompson A multi-pronged approach to nematode management remains the best approach for Florida specialty crop producers. Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, discussed nematode management during the recent Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo in Tampa, Florida. “It just …
PSA: Septic System Maintenance After Flooding
Developed by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension regional specialized water resources agents Yilin Zhuang and Andrea Albertin During floods or heavy rains, like ones associated with Hurricane Idalia, the soil around a septic tank and drainfield can get waterlogged, and wastewater from the septic system can’t drain through the soil. Help avoid major problems …
What’s Done During Fallow Period is Key Strategy for Weed Management
By Clint Thompson What growers do during the fallow period will have just as big of an impact on weed suppression than what is done during the production season itself. That is the mindset shared by Ramdas Kanissery, weed scientist and assistant professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). He discussed weed management during …
UF/IFAS Research: On Verge of Developing Domestic Industry for Valuable Spice
Vanilla takes the crown as the second most valuable spice (after saffron) and the world’s most popular flavor among consumers. University of Florida researchers in Homestead are on the verge of developing a domestic vanilla industry, poised to transform agriculture in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for interested small growers and investors. Thanks to nearly $400,000 in grants from …