By Clint Thompson Two sub-freezing weather events in recent weeks have impacted Georgia’s peach crop. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties, believes the early-maturing peaches were the varieties impacted the most by temperatures that dropped below 30 degrees Fahrenheit (F) in consecutive weeks. “It looks like our earlier stuff …
Early Season Disease Management Options for North Florida Melon Growers
By Clint Thompson University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences recommends North Florida watermelon producers continue a weekly application of Bravo or other chlorothalonil product. This helps protects against early disease development, said Bob Hochmuth, UF/IFAS Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “Early in the season, we suggest that they continue with a weekly application of …
South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline: Whitefly Infestations Higher Than Normal
Whitefly infestations are higher than normal in certain areas across South Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Scouts have reported adult whiteflies are present on all crops in southwest Florida. Nymph populations are starting to build and becoming high enough to create sooty mold. Population levels are moderate on beans in the Everglades Agricultural Area but …
Citrus Variety Research Update
The Florida Citrus Commission on March 15 heard an update on four sponsored projects under the New Varieties Development and Management Corp. (NVDMC). Peter Chaires, NVDMC executive director, provided the updates: Additionally, two early-maturing OLL clones were propagated and offer real potential to replace Hamlin. Fourteen high-soluble-solids OLL clones were identified as well as two 20-year-old Hamlin trees in the Orie Lee Alligator Hamlin …
UF Blueberry Specialist: Growers Cautiously Optimistic This Harvest Season
By Clint Thompson Blueberry harvests are well under way across Florida. After a year that’s seen producers challenged with multiple weather events, like Hurricane Ian last September, Hurricane Nicole last November and multiple days of cold temperatures during Christmas week, growers are optimistic about this year’s crop. Phil Harmon, professor and Extension plant pathologist at the University of Florida (UF) …
Don’t Miss The Florida Grower Citrus Show!
The 2023 Florida Grower Citrus Show is not your average trade show. In less than one month, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Ft. Pierce will host the show. Seminars will be packed with …
Speaker Spotlight: Scott Adkins
This year, AgNet Media is expanding the Florida Grower Citrus Show to include vegetable seminars. Scott Adkins, U.S. Department of Agriculture research leader, will be talking about what’s new in vegetable viruses and detector dogs during the afternoon breakout session. Adkins will discuss new and emerging problems that come with Florida’s sub-tropical climate. His talk will highlight a new way …
Drought Expanding Across Southeast
Dry conditions are expanding across the Southeast region. Abnormally dry conditions are widespread across southern Alabama. Southwest and southeast Georgia are anywhere from abnormally dry to moderately dry, while southern Florida is either moderately dry or severely dry, according to last Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Alabama’s dry conditions start as far west as Washington and Mobile counties …
April Crop Insurance Deadline Approaches
The final date to apply for Florida citrus tree and fruit crop insurance coverage for the 2023 crop year is April 15. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the April 15 to do so. Federal crop insurance is critical to the farm safety net, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk …
UF/IFAS Receiving Favorable Comments with Blueberry Growers Guide App
By Clint Thompson The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Blueberry Growers Guide phone app has drawn rave reviews from the people who need it the most – Florida’s blueberry producers. Doug Phillips, UF/IFAS blueberry Extension coordinator at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, discussed the app, which started a couple of years ago. “I …