According to the South Florida Vegetable Pest and Disease Hotline, whiteflies are flaring up in tomatoes and watermelons in Southwest Florida. In the Central Florida area, growers indicate that whiteflies are present in tomatoes low numbers, although some of the early plantings were hit hard by whiteflies. Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus pressure remains less than 1% but it is …
Fungicide Resistance a Growing Problem in Strawberries
Fungicide resistance in strawberries is a major problem, says University of Georgia Cooperative Extension plant pathologist Phil Brannen. He encourages producers to help researchers understand which fungicides are still active and provide protection against diseases like anthracnose and botrytis. “(Fungicide resistance) has really come to the forefront in the last few years. In the last two or three years, we …
Cover Crops Helpful for Alabama Hemp Producers
Cover crops are important tools and have various advantages for farmers transitioning from one season to the next. Eric Schavey, Alabama Regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama, encourages hemp producers to plant their cover crops now before it’s too late in the season. “If you get into November, you’re a little late. Your cereal rye will do a little better …
Powdery Mildew Resistance Survey
According to the UGA Extension Viticulture Blog, University of Georgia researchers are asking grape producers if powdery mildew has been spotted in their vineyards. UGA would love to sample it, and it could mean that the fungicide program is breaking down due to resistance development in the powdery mildew fungus. UGA graduate student Brooke Warres is working on QoI and …
Shuck Decline in Pecans
According to the UGA Extension Pecan Blog, shuck decline in pecans is starting to manifest itself in orchards across the state. Growers are starting to see symptoms of shuck decline in the orchard. Symptoms range from shucks turning all the way black to the tips, green shucks turning black and peeling back at the suture. In some cases, kernels are …
New AI Technology ‘Agroview’ Named UF Invention of the Year
September 23, 2020 By: Brad Buck, 813-757-2224, bradbuck@ufl.edu Yiannis Ampatzidis and his research team combined their collective minds to find the artificial intelligence technology to best help farmers save money and better care for their crops. Out of that process, they invented a system known as Agroview. The system utilizes images from drones and satellites and from the ground – …
FFVA’s Joyner: Government’s Self-Initiation of 201 Investigation Speaks Volumes About Importance
The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) is pleased with the USTR’s decision to implement a Section 201 investigation into blueberries. Mike Joyner, president of FFVA, said the investigation was best for blueberry producers, mainly because of its global approach. “When you watched the testimony of the two hearings, there were a number of blueberry growers. We knew this already …
UGA Vegetable Entomologist More Optimistic About Whiteflies Following Rain, Cooler Temperatures
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist Stormy Sparks is more optimistic about the ongoing whitefly problem that farmers are facing this fall – especially more than what he was feeling two weeks ago. His reason for optimism? Remnants from a hurricane and a drop in temperatures. Remnants from Hurricane Sally and cooler weather this week should help knock back …
UGA professor receives $5.4 million grant to combat destructive Asiatic fly
By Emily Cabrera for CAES News The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) has been awarded a $5.4 million grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to develop long-term, sustainable methods for controlling the spotted wing drosophila (SWD). Native to Asia, SWD is a tiny fly that was first detected …
Using Reflective Mulch Films to Optimize Strawberry Production
By Ashley Robinson Although a winter crop, strawberry production in Florida still falls victim to heat stress. With extreme heat during establishment, cool temperatures during the early and mid-harvests, and high temperatures during the late harvest, the crop is subject to dramatic seasonal temperature variations. Traditionally, the state’s strawberry growers have used black plastic mulch to achieve adequate wintertime soil …