A new University of Florida (UF) study shows how drones can do more than just take aerial pictures and videos — they can help farmers grow better hemp by seeing the health of their crops with some artificial intelligence (AI) assistance. Researchers at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead …
AFB President Urges Congress to Help Industry Get Younger
By Clint Thompson American Farm Bureau (AFB) President Zippy Duvall testified last week at the Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing to discuss the need for Congress to support younger farmers as they enter the industry. It’s a concerning issue for the future of the country’s food supply, considering one-third of America’s farmers are over the age of 65 with …
Florida Farmer of Year Testifies at Senate Special Committee on Aging Hearing
By Clint Thompson Florida Farmer of the Year Jim Alderman used his testimony during last week’s appearance at the Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing to remind congressional leaders about the need for the agriculture industry to get younger. “At the age of 78 years old, I’ve spent four and a half decades working the land,” Alderman said. “I still …
Irrigation’s Importance for North Florida Watermelon Crop
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon growers must remain diligent with their irrigation applications as harvests continue across the Suwanee Valley. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, highlighted in his weekly email the importance of irrigation, especially with some fields picked just once or not at …
Hurricane Season Underway: Early Storm Development More Likely in Southeast
By Clint Thompson Hurricane season officially started this week on June 1. It will end on Nov. 30. That means tropical storm activity is possible for the next six months. Development is more likely to occur near the Southeast early in the season, explains Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension agricultural climatologist. “Early in the season, most of the development …
Drought Monitor Update: Conditions Worsening in South Florida
The May 29 issue of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows dry conditions expanding and worsening across southern Florida. Abnormally dry conditions cover a wide area of Southwest Georgia, while minimal drought is observed in Alabama. The worst area in Florida is covered in the southwest part of the state. Extreme drought is observed in Manatee, Hardee, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Lee, …
Lot of Tonnage Left: North Florida Watermelon Harvests Continue
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon harvests are in their fourth week across the Suwanee Valley region. One industry expert believes there is still more than half of the crop remaining. “There are many fields that are basically in the first harvesting. I would say we have a lot of tonnage out in the fields yet to be harvested if …
Sequencing the Genome: UF/IFAS Tomato Research Into Bacterial Spot
This is the second in a two-part series on the disease and UF/IFAS research. By Clint Thompson A research team led by plant pathologists with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has found the pathogen that causes bacterial spot in tomatoes has multiple genetic variations. Gary Vallad, a plant pathology professor at the Gulf Coast …
Weather Forecasts: Warmer Temps This Summer
By Clint Thompson The upcoming summer months are projected to be warmer than normal. That’s the forecast shared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension agricultural climatologist, noted in the UGA Extension Climate Blog that the forecast of warmer temperatures in June through August is not a surprising prediction. She said it is …
Salibro an Effective Treatment Option for Nematodes
By Clint Thompson Salibro nematicide provides Florida vegetable growers another new tool in the toolbox when managing nematodes. Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, discusses Salibro and its impact on the soil pests. “We have this new nematicide called Salibro which …