By Clint Thompson What started as a problem for Florida strawberry producers has developed into cause for concern for Georgia farmers. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Fruit Disease Specialist, estimates that at least 10% of Georgia’s crop is infected with Neopestalotiopsis Fruit Rot, though it could be as high as 20%. Bill Brim, co-owner of Lewis Taylor Farms …
Good Food and Good Times at the FSGA Field Day
By Ashley Robinson Strawberry growers and industry leaders gathered for the fifth annual Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) Tailgate and Field Day event on Wednesday. The event, held in conjunction with the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) in Balm, Florida started with a morning tailgate party. Tailgaters munched on fried gator tail, Italian sausage, beef …
Secret Weapon? AI Could Help Strawberry Farmers against Twospotted Spider Mite
Artificial intelligence (AI) maybe the secret weapon in strawberry farmers’ fight against the twospotted spider mite. University of Florida scientists have developed a smartphone application to detect the annual pest of Florida strawberries. If farmers could detect the pest quicker, they could utilize lower levels of chemicals that could otherwise harm the environment. For Example For a 50-acre farm, every …
Be on Alert: Gray Mold in Strawberries Can be Devastating
One of the most common diseases of strawberries has already been observed this year in Alabama. Gray mold, also known as Botrytis blight or Botrytis fruit rot, can devastate a crop and cause millions in lost revenue if not managed, according to Alabama Extension. No part of the strawberry plant is immune from the disease. Gray mold can affect the …
UGA Encourages Cleaning of Equipment to Reduce Spread of Neopestalotiopsis
Neopestalotiopsis Fruit Rot is devastating strawberry fields in Georgia and Alabama. In an effort to reduce the pathogen’s spread, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension is encouraging strawberry producers to make sure farm equipment is clean before moving from field to field. According to the UGA Extension strawberry blog, washing equipment with soap and water after use in a field with …
Rookie Success: Alabama Strawberry Producer Says First Crop ‘Looks Good’
By Clint Thompson A couple of weeks into Jim Bennett’s first season and the Alabama strawberry producer already regrets not planting more acres than he did. “We’ve talked about planting strawberries since we opened. This year it kind of worked out and decided we’d go for it,” said Bennett, owner of Bennett Farms in Heflin, Alabama. “It’s right at two …
Second Source: Strawberry Disease Attributed to Another Nursery
The strawberry disease that has ravaged crops in Florida and Georgia has now been attributed to two nursery sources. According to the University of Georgia Extension strawberry blog, a nursery in Canada received plants from a North Carolina nursery, which is the source of the pathogen related to Neopestalotiopsis Fruit Rot. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Fruit Disease …
Strawberry Disease: ‘It’s on the Back of Everybody’s Minds Right Now’
A crop that already has its annual challenges is struggling to overcome its latest obstacle. Florida strawberry farmer Dustin Grooms confirmed that Neopestalotiopsis Fruit Rot has provided uncertainty for the future of the industry in Florida. “I do feel like this year was amplified a little bit more with that new disease because normally you can come out there with …
Beware: Fungal Foliar Diseases Alive and Well in Alabama
Weather conditions are conducive to certain plant diseases being a problem this year. Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, cautions Alabama producers about certain fungal diseases that could become problematic. “One of the things that’s important this time of the year is there are a lot of foliar fungal diseases. They cause problems in strawberries, but they also cause problems …
Georgia Strawberry Farmer: Disease Wiped Out This Year’s Crop
Neopestalotiopsis Fruit Rot is not just impacting Florida strawberry producers. It has quickly made its way north. Just ask Georgia strawberry farmer Bill Brim. “It just wiped (my strawberries) out. As a matter of fact, we sprayed it with roundup (Wednesday),” Brim said. Brim’s strawberry production equated to 12 acres. “It’s a pile of money, too, the plants; about $60,000 …