Whitefly populations are high in some areas in the southern region of Florida, while low in other spots, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Populations are increasing but are still low in tomatoes and squash in central Florida. Higher levels of adults and nymphs are reported in tomatoes, melons and squash in southwest Florida. Whitefly populations range …
Time to Sample Watermelon Plants
By Clint Thompson It is time for petiole-sap testing or leaf tissue analysis for watermelon producers in North Florida. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, discusses the testing service that UF/IFAS Extension provides to growers. “We collectively provide a service of going out and running petiole …
Watermelon 2021: Domestic Production Down, Imports Up
Domestic watermelon production was down in 2021, though imports from other countries like Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras rose. Domestic production totaled 3.37 billion pounds last year, a decrease of 2% from 2020. This was mostly attributed to a 7% decrease in Georgia production because of a cooler spring and 35% decrease in Texas due to Winter Storm Uri. Florida’s watermelon …
Florida Peach Producer: I’m Surprised We’ve Got a Peach at All
By Clint Thompson The weather was so unpredictable this winter in Florida that one peach producer was shocked he had a crop this year. Not only does Mike Graham have peaches, he has quite a bit. “It looks really good for me. I’ve had other people tell me they don’t have any, a light crop. But no, we’ve got a …
Unpredictable Year for Florida Peaches
By Clint Thompson Peach production in Florida is unpredictable this year. The inconsistent weather conditions are a key reason why, explains Jose Chaparro, associate professor in the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). “The way that we accumulated chilling this year was really bizarre. I can tell you that in the Umatilla area that they’re going …
ABT Populations Low Across South Florida
Asian bean thrips (ABT) populations remain low across the South Florida region, according to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Scouting detected ABTs at a rate of less than 0.1 per bloom across most of the monitored fields. The one exception was eastern Immokalee, where populations reached 0.5 per bloom late in the crop cycle. …
North Florida Watermelon Plants Rebounding from Freeze
By Clint Thompson The majority of North Florida’s watermelon plants have rebounded from the cold temperatures during the weekend of March 12. Damaged plants are beginning to show new growth and make a significant recovery in a week and a half since temperatures dropped below freezing. Growers who started planting earlier in mid-to-late February are seeing the biggest difference, says …
Florida Funding: Legislature Provides Boost for UF/IFAS Research
By Clint Thompson The Florida state legislature’s funding for research being conducted at University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) will continue to help specialty crop producers remain sustainable. The highlight was the $8.7 million devoted to the nutrient application rate for citrus, corn, green beans, tomatoes and potatoes with the intent of adding additional crops. John …
Commissioner Fried Statement on USDA Approval of Disaster Declaration
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s request on Monday for a Secretarial disaster declaration for dozens of counties impacted by freezing temperatures in late January. “We are grateful to Secretary (Tom) Vilsack and the Biden Administration for granting our request for a USDA disaster declaration after record lows at the end of January caused …
Mite-y Big Concern: Mites a Problem for South Florida Producers
Mites are widely present in crops across the South Florida region, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Spider mites have increased in cucurbits, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and potatoes around Southwest Florida. Some fields have even required treatments by farmers. Spider mite populations are also high in some cucumber, pepper, tomato and eggplant in fields on the east …