Drought Impact: Northeast Florida Experiencing Dry Conditions

Web AdminDrought, Florida, Weather

By Clint Thompson The lingering drought has spread across the Southeast and impacted various parts of Florida, specifically in the northeast part of the state. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, discusses the impact the dry weather is having in his area. “We’re very dry, and …

Thrips Update: Populations Vary in Central, Southern Florida

Web AdminFlorida, Pests

Thrips pressure is low across central and southern Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Scouts are observing low numbers in pepper in central Florida, with thrips only found in the bloom. Dak Seal, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences entomologist at the Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, Florida, reports low …

$3.2 M USDA Grant: CAES Leads Research to Improve Organic Onion Production

Web AdminOnion, Research

A team of researchers from the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) is partnering with colleagues from Texas A&M University to find more effective production practices for organic onion growers in the southern United States where short-day onions — those that bulb with 11 to 12 hours of sunlight each day — are primarily grown. …

specialty crop

Imports Battering the U.S. Blueberry Industry

Web AdminBlueberries

By A. Malek Hammami and Zhengfei Guan The United States is a major blueberry producer. The value of production in 2021 reached $1.1 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA ERS). USDA statistics show that total U.S. blueberry production in 2022 was 622 million pounds. The Pacific Northwest states of Oregon and Washington lead in …

Peach Producers Beware: Disease Spray Applications a Must Next Year

Web AdminPeaches

By Clint Thompson The lack of fungicide applications for peach diseases last season means growers should be mindful of sprays heading into next spring. Once the freeze events in March wiped out most of Georgia’s crop, it also stopped many producers from applying their normal fungicide sprays. But they should be ready to combat potential disease buildup next spring, according …

USDA ERS Displays Strawberry Popularity

Web AdminStrawberries

A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) study concludes that strawberries remain the most popular berry in terms of their value and volume of production. About 2.4 billion pounds of strawberries were produced in 2018-2020, an 87% increase from 1.29 billion pounds in 2000-2002. About 2 billion pounds, or 83% of strawberry production, are for the fresh …

Drought Monitor Update: Conditions Worsening Across Southeast Region

Web AdminDrought

By Clint Thompson The lingering drought conditions are worsening and expanding across the Southeast. The drought blankets all of Alabama. It covers all of western Georgia and into the northeast part of the state. The Florida Panhandle and Northeast Florida are mostly dry. This is according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Most of Alabama is at least moderately dry, though, …

Syngenta Seeking Summer Interns

Web AdminAgribusiness, Education

Syngenta is seeking citrus interns in Florida for the summer of 2024, with an application deadline of Nov. 1. The company plans to schedule and hold interviews before Thanksgiving. Syngenta provided the following information about the internship program and the qualification requirements:  PROGRAM OVERVIEWCitrus interns at Syngenta gain hands-on experience in the ag industry. This is a paid internship that …