By Sriyanka Lahiri The development of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach for the various arthropod pests of organic strawberries is underway at the University of Florida’s Strawberry and Small Fruit Crops Entomology Lab. The primary arthropod pests needing management include chilli thrips, western flower thrips, two-spotted spider mite and cyclamen mite. Strawberry fruit yield losses due to feeding damage …
Clemson Extension Agents: Cooler Temps Greet South Carolina Growers
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in the The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Region Zack Snipes reports, “It feels like winter showed up this past week with cold, windy, gloomy days. Most, if not all of our strawberries have been planted. With the cool weather showing up and our later …
Georgia Vegetable Grower: Supply Chain Crisis a Strain That Will Get Worse
By Clint Thompson The current supply chain crisis is putting a strain on vegetable farmers in the Southeast. It is likely to get worse before it gets better. That’s the message that Jon Schwalls, Executive Officer at Southern Valley, sent to the U.S. House Ag Committee during testimony last week. Crop protection products that growers utilize and take for granted …
‘Light’ Crop: Weather Impacts SE Pecans
By Clint Thompson Early observations from this year’s pecan harvests indicate what growers feared throughout the summer and early fall – pecan quality and yields are down this year across the Southeast. “Now we’re starting to see in these mid-season harvest varieties, we’re seeing them come out of the orchard a little light. Where it looks like they had a …
Around the Clock Care: Peach Tree Management a Year-Round Process
By Clint Thompson Peach tree management is a year-round process for Alabama producers. How growers take care of their trees after harvest and during the dormant season will impact production next year. That’s the message David Lawrence, Alabama Regional Extension Agent in central Alabama, hopes to convey to producers. “Peach production is hard in June, July and into August. The …
Cover Crops Provide Plethora of Benefits
By Clint Thompson Cover crops are widely used in Florida strawberries, not as much so in vegetable production, however. Johan Desaeger, Assistant Professor of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida (UF) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, would like to see that changed. “I think it’s something that would benefit a lot of crops here in Florida. Our …
Commissioner Fried: We Need Federal Action to Level Playing Field
Tallahassee, Fla. — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried wrote a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack on Thursday. She addressed the continued unfair foreign trade practices being employed by Mexico and other countries that are causing severe harm to the domestic seasonal produce industry. “Florida farmers and American agriculture is the best in the world, and …
Registration Ongoing for Labor Forum
By Clint Thompson Registration is still ongoing for the upcoming Georgia Agricultural Labor Relations Forum on Nov. 9-10 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The two-day conference will feature talks specific to the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, Department of Labor (DOL) wage and hour audits, being compliant with OSHA and DOL in the COVID-19 …
Biological Control: UF Research Testing New Measures for Mites in Blueberries
By Clint Thompson Biological applications may be Florida blueberry growers’ best management strategy for long-lasting control of mites. Oscar Liburd, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Professor and Fruit and Vegetable IPM Program leader, said resistance concerns are forcing researchers to consider alternative control measures. “One of the problems is that if we continue using the …
Citrus Q&A: UF/IFAS CREC to Host Open House, Field Day
LAKE ALFRED, Fla. — University of Florida (UF) Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) researchers want to answer questions citrus growers may have to produce a crop successfully and safely amid citrus greening disease. Citrus farmers can get those questions answered during a UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) open house and field day on Tuesday, Nov 16. …