By Clint Thompson University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist Lenny Wells reminds producers about the susceptibility that young trees have to ambrosia beetle damage. “This is the time that they’re out, with the warm weather that we’ve had. They’re out flying. We’ve had reports of some out and hitting trees already. It’s not surprising,” Wells said. “This is when they …
Update on Finger Limes in Florida
The Australian finger lime has created a buzz among chefs and mixologists for its caviar-like texture and flavorful pulp. The fruit also has captured interest among growers for its seemingly high tolerance to HLB. On March 23, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted a half-day online symposium on finger limes to provide growers with …
Bacterial Spot: Active but Declining in South Florida
Bacterial spot disease continues to be active on tomato and susceptible pepper varieties across Southwest Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. However, overall disease pressure has declined with the recent dry weather in the southern part of the state. The disease continues to be widespread in fields in Homestead, Florida and is starting to become prevalent …
Grape Producers Looking for Rain, Just Not as Much as 2021
By Clint Thompson Grape producers need some rain. They just don’t need a repeat of last season, said University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Fruit Disease Specialist Phil Brannen. “As far as grape production, (last year) was very difficult,” Brannen said. “It’d be a lot nicer for us again this year, we don’t necessarily need a completely dry year because I …
Blueberry Production: Protect Against Root Rot Disease
By Clint Thompson Blueberry growers who utilized overhead freeze protection to protect their crop from the freeze event during the weekend of March 12, need to guard against the development of root rot disease. Growers used overhead irrigation to protect against sub-freezing temperatures. In doing so, however, a large amount of water was utilized, resulting in saturated root zones. This …
Rep. Scott: Work on 2023 Farm Bill On Track
The 2018 Farm Bill faced months of delays that left the nation without farm bill programs from the expiration of the 2014 Farm Bill on September 30, 2018, until the bill was finally passed and signed by then-President Donald Trump in December 2018. The 2018 Farm Bill is set to expire next year and work is getting underway on the …
U.S. Drought Monitor: Dry Conditions Remain in Areas Across Southeast
Recent rains have helped replenish some of the soil moisture in North Florida, though various areas remain either abnormally dry or moderately dry, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Parts of the Panhandle remains abnormally dry, starting in Escambia County and stretching eastward to Jackson County. Much of the central and southern parts of the state remain either abnormally dry …
Unpredictable Year for Florida Peaches
By Clint Thompson Peach production in Florida is unpredictable this year. The inconsistent weather conditions are a key reason why, explains Jose Chaparro, associate professor in the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). “The way that we accumulated chilling this year was really bizarre. I can tell you that in the Umatilla area that they’re going …
ABT Populations Low Across South Florida
Asian bean thrips (ABT) populations remain low across the South Florida region, according to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Scouting detected ABTs at a rate of less than 0.1 per bloom across most of the monitored fields. The one exception was eastern Immokalee, where populations reached 0.5 per bloom late in the crop cycle. …
North Florida Watermelon Plants Rebounding from Freeze
By Clint Thompson The majority of North Florida’s watermelon plants have rebounded from the cold temperatures during the weekend of March 12. Damaged plants are beginning to show new growth and make a significant recovery in a week and a half since temperatures dropped below freezing. Growers who started planting earlier in mid-to-late February are seeing the biggest difference, says …