It is no secret that today’s growers are faced with many challenges. The February issue of VSCNews magazine explores how growers can meet some of these challenges. To be successful in farming requires a great deal of flexibility, determination and endurance. Vegetable grower Chuck Obern, owner of C&B Farms, Inc., embodies these traits and is highlighted in this month’s issue. …
High-Performance Computing for Breeding Better Crops
By Tong Geon Lee Vegetable and specialty crop yields have steadily increased throughout the years as a result of advances in genetics and agronomic practices. Nevertheless, a significant improvement in crop performance remains necessary, particularly given the predicted shifts in climate, pathogen outbreaks and other challenges. The continued genetic improvement of crops is, therefore, a focus for crop researchers. During …
Protecting Peaches From Scale and Borers
By Ali Sarkhosh This time of the year, during winter pruning and tree topping/hedging, you will probably see tiny white insects on peach tree limbs and branches. In most cases, these insects are scales, which cause branches to die back. If not treated, tree death can eventually occur. SCALE CONTROL Scales, normally white peach and/or San Jose scale, are serious …
Tips for Gall Midge Management
By Oscar Liburd and Doug Phillips Blueberry gall midge is a small fly that feeds on the floral and vegetative buds of blueberries. Reports of gall midge damage on blueberries grown in Florida have become more common in recent years. In cases where there was severe feeding injury to floral buds, the midge can significantly affect yield. DESCRIPTION AND LIFE …
What to Watch for in 2020 Crop Genetics
By Kevin Folta Two decades ago, we were waking up and celebrating that our computers didn’t melt down on New Year’s Day. We could still tote a bottle of iced tea through an airport security line, and we were on the front side of a stock market bubble bloated with tech stocks and ready to burst. At the same time, …
Disease Management Update for Georgia Blueberries
By Jonathan Oliver In 2019, Georgia blueberry production rebounded from the effects of the devastating late freezes in 2017 and 2018. Nonetheless, blueberry producers in the southeastern United States must contend annually with environmental factors such as heat and humidity that can provide an ideal climate for the development of disease issues. The University of Georgia (UGA)-Tifton fruit pathology program …
Sneak Peek: January VSCNews Magazine
The January issue of VSCNews magazine explores the latest technology and research, giving growers a guide of what to look for in 2020. Kevin Folta, a horticultural sciences professor at the University of Florida, looks at how far technology has advanced over the past 20 years. He discusses the accelerating pace of genetic discovery and what technological advancements in crop …
Finger Limes for the Specialty Produce Market
By Manjul Dutt, Edward “Gilly” Evans, Jude Grosser and Aditya Singh Finger limes are 2- to 4-inch, finger-shaped, cylindrical fruits belonging to the citrus family. They taste like limes but are generally less sour. Finger limes are native to the Australian rainforests. The trees are found growing wild in the coastal regions of western Australia and have been used for …
Could Jujube Be a Fruit Tree for the Southeast?
By Kevin Folta I was glued to an uncomfortable seat in a rickety van, speeding down a marginal Chinese highway. A group of scientists ventured out for a day trip, from Wuhan to the Three Gorges Dam. The driver spoke no English, his foot was made of lead, and he chain-smoked one cigarette after another, pausing only to find his …
Helping Specialty Crop Growers Reduce, Remediate and Recycle Water
By Sarah A. White Water is necessary for growing plants. This simple statement says it all but doesn’t begin to address the complexities of water decisions growers face today. Some questions are common, regardless of where your operation is located: How much water do my plants need? How does water quality affect plant growth? How much water do I need …