Thrips pressure is increasing in Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. The tiny insects have increased quickly to high levels in central Florida. Juveniles and adults are being observed on blooms and apical meristems of pepper. Damage is low but should increase throughout the season. Thrips are also being reported in cucumbers. Thrips pressure levels range …
Chilling Reality: Minimal Cold Temperatures Not Good for Florida Peaches
By Clint Thompson The future of Florida peaches rests with its ability to find footing in the northern area of the state. That’s the opinion shared by Jose Chaparro, associate professor in the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), who equates it to the situation being experienced in Georgia. “What’s happening is the best places to …
UF/IFAS to Hold On-Farm Watermelon Field Day
By Clint Thompson The University of Florida Food and Agricultural Sciences will host an on-farm watermelon field day on Tuesday, May 3 near Trenton, Florida. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, discusses what growers and industry leaders can expect from the field day scheduled for the …
Whitefly Pressure Increasing in Florida
Whitefly pressure is intensifying in regions across south Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Populations have increased significantly in central Florida, reaching moderate to elevated levels in older plants of squash and cucumber. High levels of nymphs and eggs are also being observed, which indicates the potential for a population boom. Moderate levels are also reported …
Florida Mango Supply Limited This Year
By Clint Thompson Count the Florida mango supply as a victim of a cold temperatures this year. Alan Chambers, plant geneticist at UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center, said Florida mango supply will be extremely limited this year. “This is the first time that I’ve seen and from some of our historical knowledge, this just doesn’t happen very often. We …
Powdery Mildew Detected in North Florida Watermelon
By Clint Thompson Lab testing has confirmed powdery mildew disease in watermelon in the Suwanee Valley region of Florida. Growers should be proactive in beginning their fungicide spray programs, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “We got the first confirmation, and it was very good …
Registration Alert: Deadline Today for UF/IFAS Stone Fruit Field Day
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) reminds peach producers about the upcoming Stone Fruit Field Day, scheduled for Tuesday, April 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the UF/IFAS Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, Florida. Current and interested peach growers, home gardeners, farm advisors and all those interested in stone fruit are …
Phytoplasma Disease Confirmed in Florida
Scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have recorded the first North American case of a harmful phytoplasma disease known for its threat to fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops in South America and the Middle East. The phytoplasma species called Candidatus Phytoplasma brasiliense is documented in regions of Brazil and Peru to harm hibiscus, …
Florida Tomato Leader: We’re Just Trying to Hang on Here
By Clint Thompson On the surface, an oversupply of Florida tomatoes helped lead to suppressed prices for the industry. However, one industry leader stresses that supply still pales in comparison to previous seasons. “Look at what’s happened to our industry over the last one to two decades. An industry gets beaten down over a couple of decades and you have …
U.S. Drought Monitor: Latest Update for Southeast
South Florida continues to experience various levels of dry conditions, according to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Severe drought conditions are observed along the southwestern part of the state, in Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties. Moderate dry conditions are being felt in the south-central region, as far north as Hillsborough, Polk and Osceola counties and as far …