By Clint Thompson Frost protection will be an essential management plan for blueberry producers in the Southeast during the upcoming months leading up to harvest. Eric Stafne, a Mississippi State Extension/Research Professor, highlights the benefits and importance of using overhead sprinkler irrigation when temperatures drop below freezing. “The benefit of using that is it’s the most effective way to prevent …
Proclaim Insecticide a Valuable Option for Growers Against Diamondback Moth
By Clint Thompson One of the leading insecticide treatments for diamondback moth could still be vulnerable to overuse and eventual resistance. That’s why John Taylor, agronomic service representative for Syngenta, implores producers to rotate different modes of action so resistance does not develop. “Proclaim® is one of the stalwarts, so to speak, of diamondback moth management. With that being said, …
UF/IFAS Research: Controlled-Release Fertilizer a Valuable Option for Farmers
By Clint Thompson University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research could solve a problem aimed at preventing leaching of fertilizer in the soil for vegetable crops. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, says research with controlled-release fertilizers have generated encouraging results. “In …
Baldwin, Mobile Counties Added to Domestic Sweet Orange Scab Quarantine
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI), is establishing a quarantine for Elsinoë australis, the fungal causal agent of sweet orange scab (SOS), in all of Baldwin and Mobile counties to prevent the spread of the disease. The quarantine area encompasses seven nurseries and 60 acres of citrus …
Pesky Pest: Diamondback Moth Remains Concern for Georgia Growers
By Clint Thompson One pest that Georgia vegetable growers can bank on for the upcoming season is diamondback moth. Its high resistance to insecticides makes it an annual pest that growers need to be wary of, according to Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist. “We have products that when they first come out, they were probably …
Pecans Prices, Demand Remain Strong for Georgia Producers
Pecan prices remain strong, while demand is good for Georgia farmers. That’s the latest from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Pecan Report, which was released on Thursday. Temperatures are expected to warm back up to the mid-70s by next Tuesday, which should provide favorable harvesting conditions for those producers hoping to collect what’s remaining in their orchards. “Domestic buyers …
High Populations: Pepper Weevils a Concern for South Florida Producers
According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, pepper weevils remain moderate to high in various vegetable crops across south Florida. Respondents along the east coast report that weevil populations are high around St. Lucie County. They are moderate at other locations. Populations remain a concern in Manatee and Hillsborough counties. Weevils are showing up in other locations around …
Pathway to a Sustainable Florida Citrus Industry Ahead
Learn why CRDF’s Rick Dantzler thinks the sector is nearing the point where things are positioned for sustainability and growth.
Minimal Diseases so far for Florida Strawberry Producers
By Clint Thompson The extended dry period in South Florida has been a boost for strawberry production. Natalia Peres, Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Florida/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, believes weather conditions have been favorable for strawberries early in the season and diseases have been minimal so far. “It’s been pretty quiet. We’re good, I …
New Cantaloupe Varieties Offer Sweet Options for Producers
By Clint Thompson Small melon producers in the southeast have a few options to choose from if they want to capitalize on new cantaloupe varieties, according to Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist. “It’s one of those crops that we have a lot more potential with. It’s scattered through the state. Most growers, especially if they have roadside stands, all …