 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Florida”
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 …
Downy mildew disease remains the most important threat to North Florida watermelons, a couple of weeks into harvest season. That’s the assessment made by Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. The disease has not “blown up” this year, and Hochmuth attributes that to growers being proactive …
The May 22 edition of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows lingering drought in central and southern Florida, though conditions are much improved in Georgia and Alabama. Extreme drought is still present in a large area in South Florida. It includes all or parts of such counties as Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Hendry, Palm Beach, Collier, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe. Severe …
By Clint Thompson Adequate chilling and warm temperatures in early spring helped Florida’s peach crop to develop as they should. As a result, growers enjoy a productive season with this year’s crop. “We had a normal year in terms of chilling, with the accumulative chilling in November and December. They bloomed in the middle of January, and they had enough …
By Clint Thompson Watermelon harvests are well underway across the Suwanee Valley region of North Florida. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, likes the quality and quantity of this year’s crop, even with some acres impacted by fusarium wilt disease. “I think we’ve got an excellent crop …
The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) is calling for the repeal of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) Methodology Rule and the H-2A Worker Protection Rule; action that would impact the current labor crisis, including in Georgia and Alabama. The FFVA submitted a letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget. The repeal is necessary since both …
By Clint Thompson One Florida tomato grower’s assessment of this year’s crop focused on the plethora of challenges that state’s producers had to contend with. Whether it was from hurricanes in the fall to unfavorable markets, the challenges were on multiple fronts and impacted production for Tony DiMare and other Florida producers. He discussed this year’s crop in an interview …
By Clint Thompson High temperatures this week have watermelon producers concerned about potential sunburn on this year’s crop. It could impact growers in the North Florida region who have already started harvesting and those in South Georgia and South Alabama that are still a few weeks away. “In some cases, these fields that haven’t been walked over yet, as long …
By Clint Thompson Farmers spend a substantial amount of money every year to operate a labor force for their crops. It’s the defining issue that John Walt Boatright, deals with as director of government affairs at American Farm Bureau. “No matter where we go and no matter who we talk to in farm country, labor continues to be the focal …
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon harvests are expected to take off this week amid prolonged sunshine in the forecast. In fact, some have already started. “I saw some busses locally that were loaded with watermelons, so apparently somebody started over the weekend,” said Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Regional Specialized Extension agent in …
