GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Hurricane Idalia made landfall the morning of Aug. 30 near Keaton Beach, Florida, but the Category 3 storm’s northeastern route brought rain and high winds to coastal regions along the western peninsula and inland agricultural counties. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP) uses surveys after natural disasters, …
UF/IFAS Leader: Plant Pathology Department Has Broad Reach on Variety of Crops
By Clint Thompson Mathews Paret’s appointment as the new head of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plant pathology department starts on Sept. 15. It is a critical time for Paret to take over the department considering the plethora of plant diseases that specialty crop growers must manage every year in Florida. “It’s a department …
Hurricane Idalia Aftermath: North Florida Infrastructure Impacted Significantly
By Clint Thompson North Florida agricultural leaders are still assessing damage left by Hurricane Idalia last week. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) regional specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, provided an overview of what happened to the crops in the field and infrastructure on farms and in the different communities impacted by …
Strawberry Farmer Testimonial: Hurricane Idalia Impact Not as Bad as Planting Season Looms
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 …