By Clint Thompson The dawn of another fall vegetable season in Florida means increased risk for producers, especially when compared to spring production. “The fall generally has more risk exposure than the spring does,” says Josh Freeman, University of Florida/IFAS Associate Professor in Horticultural Science. “You worry about whiteflies, you worry about tropical weather. You have all these things to …
Automation: Future of Farming Today
By Clint Thompson The future of vegetable and specialty crop farming is now – or at least it needs to be. With labor a major concern, Southeast producers’ future may rest with automation, says Wes Porter, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension irrigation and precision agriculture specialist. “Labor prices are going up. Labor is getting harder and harder to find,” Porter …
Sweet Future for Papayas in Florida?
By Clint Thompson University of Florida/IFAS research yielded profitable options for tropical fruit producers yearning to produce a new crop. That crop is papaya. “It’s about more options and de-risking the process,” said Alan Chambers, plant geneticist at UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center. Chambers conducted research at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead and featured various …
Wet Summer Expected to Stay That Way
By Clint Thompson A wet summer is expected to stay that way for the foreseeable future, according to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center. Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension Agricultural Climatologist, discusses the impact. “So, last year was wet from all of the tropical activity. We’re just at the beginning of this tropical season this year, so we’ve …
Time to Overhaul U.S. Agricultural Policy
By Zhengfei Guan Since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation, the U.S. produce industry has been actively pursuing policy changes to counter increasing foreign competition. This competition, particularly from Mexico, has caused great challenges to the sustainability of the domestic industry. I have participated in policy discussions and testified at two recent hearings. The first was on seasonal …
Perfect Tomato? Plant Breeding a Challenge For Even the Best
By Clint Thompson University of Florida tomato breeder Sam Hutton can sometimes be in a no-win situation when trying to create a variety of the future. Between a consumer base that desires quality, and farmers, who crave quantity, it presents a challenging scenario. How do you keep farmers and consumers happy? It is almost impossible. “As you increase your sugars, …
Drought-Less Region: Sufficient Moisture Remains in Alabama, Florida and Georgia
According to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of the Southeast continues to have sufficient moisture amid a wet summer. No areas of Alabama or Georgia are abnormally dry. Only a small part of Miami-Dade County in Florida is abnormally dry. South Carolina has sufficient moisture, except for a small region across the northwest part of the state. …
Sour Ending for Watermelon Season
By Clint Thompson Southeast watermelon producers prefer weather conditions to stay as dry as possible during harvest time. Needless to say, this summer has been anything but ideal for growers in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Persistent rains, increased disease pressure and diminishing market prices have added up to a challenging couple of months, says Josh Freeman, University of Florida/IFAS Associate …
Papaya Popularity Prompts UF/IFAS Research Trial
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Popularity in papaya prompted University of Florida scientists to conduct a research trial. The results, just published in Scientia Horticulturae, examines 21 different varieties ripe for growing in South Florida for fruit quality, aroma, plant height and yield components. “This research is timely as growers are looking for higher value crops that resonate with consumers,” said Alan …
Hemp Update: UF/IFAS Pilot Project Yields Interesting Results
The University of Florida/IFAS’ two-year Industrial Hemp Pilot Project yielded interesting findings, though further research is needed. Variety trials showed some promising aspects of hemp genetics for grain and flower production in Florida. Key factors impacting genetics that will also determine the crop’s success include planting date, fertility management and pest control. Many varieties exceeded the 0.3% total THC threshold …