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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Florida”
By Clint Thompson Florida tomato growers have a new concern with plant disease management this year. “The big news that we have right now is that we’ve identified a new race of fusarium wilt on tomato that appears to overcome a lot of our sources of resistance that are currently deployed. I’m just trying to get the word out to …
By Clint Thompson Labor remains a contentious issue for specialty crop producers in the Southeast. It will be highlighted during the upcoming Florida Blueberry Growers Association Conference and Trade Show. “It’s a topic with some really high interest among growers,” said Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator. It has been widely …
Whitefly populations vary in areas across South Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Watermelon fields in central Florida are experiencing low to moderate numbers. Moderate levels were also reported in squash. In tomato, reports indicate whiteflies are at three or less per plants, while others showed populations increasing to high levels over the previous week. Populations …
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Foundation announced on Tuesday that Eugene McAvoy, John Hoblick, and John Schlechter as the 2024 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductees. The induction ceremony will be held at the Florida State Fair’s Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet on February 13, 2024. “Today, I am proud …
By Clint Thompson Strawberry planting has commenced across southern Florida. Growers have been met with ideal conditions so far, according to one producer. “It’s been great. We’ve had overcast days. It’s great planting weather over here,” said Matt Parke, farm manager of Parkesdale Farms in Plant City, Florida. “We’ve had some misty rains early on, a little bit of rain …
By Frank Giles Farmers, by nature, are industrious and curious about finding new ways to become more efficient and profitable. That includes finding the next big crop that could diversify the farm and spread risk. In Florida, the desire to find alternative crops has intensified as citrus acreage has declined in recent years. Often, these crops face obstacles like lack …
By Clint Thompson The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC) has a new director, and it is a win for Florida’s ornamental horticulture industry. Rob Gilbert, interim senior vice president at UF/IFAS, talked about the appointment of Kirsten Pelz-Stelinski, previously the associate center director at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education …
Florida’s native grape, the muscadine, has long held a reputation for being an acquired taste. Juicy and sweet with a leathery, thick skin and bitter seeds, the grape is typically reserved for specialty stores and wine making. Not only are these grapes delicious – they’re also a superfood, packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. The challenge was getting consumers to …
Early reports from agricultural operations in Florida’s Big Bend region indicate production losses caused by Hurricane Idalia fall in an estimated range of $78.8 million to $370.9 million, according to University of Florida (UF) economists. An estimated 3 million acres of agricultural lands were in the storm’s path, including row crops like peanuts and cotton, dairy and poultry farms, aquaculture …
By Clint Thompson Guava root-knot nematodes are still the most threatening species to impact Florida tomatoes every year. One University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) specialist believes an integrated management approach remains the best management tactic. Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida, …
