So far, so good for Florida’s peach crop. According to Jose Chaparro, UF/IFAS Associate Professor in the Horticultural Sciences Department, the peach season is going well throughout the state. “This has been really the best spring season we’ve had in a few years,” Chaparro said. “We got adequate chilling. We have good weather, and we haven’t had too much rain. …
Decision Day Looms for Gov. DeSantis
By Clint Thompson Decision day looms for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. He must decide by Thursday, April 29 to sign a bill that would expand the state’s “Right to Farm” law. The Senate passed the bill in March. The House voted 110-7 with overwhelming support last week. Now, it’s up to the governor. “We are hopeful. We have submitted, literally, …
Chilly Impact: Cold Temperatures Impact Alabama Vegetable Crops
By Clint Thompson Last week’s brief cold snap is likely to have a lasting impact on Alabama’s vegetable crops. Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, expected farmers to start seeing cold damage this week, especially on warm-season vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. “I think there was enough hours below optimal temperatures for a lot of crops that you’re going to …
Key Investment: J&J Family of Farms Acquires 1,000-Acre Farm in Vero Beach
A national grower, packer and shipper of vegetable commodities is expanding its farming operation in the Southeast. J&J Family of Farms announced the construction of a new 1,000-acre farm in Vero Beach, Florida. “The Vero Beach expansion really accomplishes a couple of things. It gives us a 1,000 acres of farmland, of which about 750 will be controlled by us …
One Year and Counting for Florida Hemp
Tallahassee, Fla. — One year and counting. Thursday, April 27, marked the one-year anniversary of Florida’s state hemp program, overseen by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Of the anniversary, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Friedoffered the following statement: “Florida’s state hemp program is leading the way in creating great jobs, safe and useful products, and a bright future …
Quality, Quantity Good for Vidalia Onion Crop
The quality and quantity of this year’s Georgia’s Vidalia onion crop appears to be good, early in the harvest season, says Cliff Riner, crop production manager for G&R Farms in Glennville, Georgia. The weather is a big reason why. “So far, very good for our farm. We have had good sizing, and the quality has been real good, partly because …
Georgia Watermelon Plants Vulnerable to Diseases Following Excessive Rains
Georgia watermelon producers should be wary of potential diseases that could fester because of excessive rains on Saturday. Bhabesh Dutta, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension plant pathologist, says there are multiple diseases that could play a factor in the production season moving forward. “Apart from the physical nature of the storm, there’s a physical damage to the crop itself. Some …
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 …
Florida Farmer: It Needs to be Fair
Almost a month after testifying before the U.S. International Trade Commission, Florida vegetable farmer Marie Bedner is optimistic about potential change to imports of cucumbers and squash flooding the domestic market. “I am optimistic. They’re listening to us. The fact that we had these hearings, the one back in August for the bell peppers and this one for the cucumbers …
Sneak Peek: May 2021 VSCNews Magazine
By Ashley Robinson The future of weed control is here. The May issue of VSCNews Magazine provides the inside scoop on all things weed control. First up, Yiannis Ampatzidis, an assistant professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) covers the future of precision weed control. …