Two University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have been appointed to a prestigious National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine committee to provide guidance on a serious disease plaguing California’s important wine industry. Kirsten Pelz-Stelinski, an entomologist with the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, and Ozgur Batuman, a plant pathologist with UF/IFAS Southwest Florida …
Celebrate Strawberry Day at the State Farmers Market Thursday
 RALEIGH – North Carolina’s (N.C.) strawberry season is well underway and to celebrate this sweet and tasty season, the State Farmers Market will be hosting Strawberry Day on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors can enjoy free samples, free recipes, live music, a performance from the N.C. State University clogging team and a visit from Suzy the Strawberry. …
U.S. Drought Monitor: Dry Conditions Persist in Southeast
The U.S. Drought Monitor continues to show areas of the Southeast that are suffering through lack of rainfall. An extended stretch of counties along the west coast of Florida are in an extreme drought. These include Levy, Marion, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Most of the rest of Florida is either in a severe drought or moderate drought. …
UF/IFAS Hosts Orchard Field Day
By Maegan Beatty Last week, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted an Orchard Field Day at the Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, Florida. The field day served as an educational event for commercial farmers, home gardeners and industry representatives. Attendees gathered to learn more about fruit crop diversification options. Speakers covered …
North Florida Watermelon Producers Should Guard Against Powdery Mildew
By Clint Thompson Even in the driest weather conditions, one disease can still torment watermelon producers. Powdery mildew is on the mind of Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) regional specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, and should be at the forefront of Northeast Florida growers’ management strategies. He cautions growers to apply …
UF/IFAS Hosts Orchard Field Day
By Maegan Beatty Last week, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted an Orchard Field Day at the Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, Florida. The field day served as an educational event for commercial farmers, home gardeners and industry representatives. Attendees gathered to learn more about fruit crop diversification options. Speakers covered …
Farm Bill Session: If You’re Not at the Table, Then You’re Probably on the Menu
By Clint Thompson If you’re not at the table, then you’re probably on the menu. That is the thought process that producers and Ag leaders have when events like a Farm Bill listening session are held. If they aren’t present to voice their concerns to legislators in charge of crafting the next Farm Bill, they could find themselves and their …
What’s the Future of Fumigation?
By Clint Thompson How specialty crop growers manage weeds when the field is not being sown is just as important as what fumigant they choose prior to planting season. Nathan Boyd, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate center director and professor of horticulture/weed science at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, has conducted years …
Georgia’s Peach Crop to Be ‘Very, Very Short’
By Clint Thompson One of Georgia’s most popular and well-known agricultural commodities is expected to be down in production this year. The sweet taste of Georgia’s peach crop is expected to be in limited supply. The March freeze events devastated the state’s crop, according to Robert Dickey, producer in Musella, Georgia. “The peaches, unfortunately, are not looking well. The last …
Growing Matters: BeSure! Campaign Offers Tips for Stewardship
The BeSure! campaign from the Growing Matters Coalition offers tips for growers to help protect pollinators. The coalition says when choosing crop protection tools, both effectiveness and potential impact on the environment must be considered. Protecting bees and other wildlife is a major part of good stewardship practices and is why Growing Matters launched BeSure!, an initiative to support growers and applicators in accomplishing …