(FDACS) — On Jan. 1, 2020, food safety and animal feed rules for the new state hemp program under the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) went into effect. Regulations on hemp extract used in food and dairy products and animal feed have been incorporated into existing FCACS programs, hemp food establishment permits are available, and the department’s food safety inspectors are ready to conduct inspections. “We’re …
Taters No More! This Florida Farm is Now Growing Sweet on Citrus
Tater Farms has worked to diversify its crop mix and is finding new tangerine plantings are progressing well in more northern climes of the Sunshine State.
Seeking Profits With Hemp
By Ernie Neff The fact that growers will be able to legally grow industrial hemp in Florida doesn’t necessarily mean the crop can be grown successfully, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) official says. “There is a huge interest in industrial hemp in the state of Florida,” says Jerry Fankhauser, assistant director of the UF/IFAS …
Muscadine Grapes Are Susceptible to Nematode Damage
By Ashley Robinson Muscadine grapes were once thought to be immune to nematode damage, but researchers have discovered this is not true. Native to the deep southeastern United States, muscadine grapes are often recognized for their disease and insect resistance due to their tough skin. However, recent research has proven that these grapes may not be as hearty as they …
Disease Management Update for Georgia Blueberries
By Jonathan Oliver In 2019, Georgia blueberry production rebounded from the effects of the devastating late freezes in 2017 and 2018. Nonetheless, blueberry producers in the southeastern United States must contend annually with environmental factors such as heat and humidity that can provide an ideal climate for the development of disease issues. The University of Georgia (UGA)-Tifton fruit pathology program …
Managing Gummy Stem Blight in Watermelon
By Ashley Robinson Gummy stem blight (GSB), also known as black rot, is a common issue for watermelon producers in the Southeast. Didymella bryoniae, the fungus that causes GSB, favors warm and humid weather, leaving the Southeast growing region susceptible to the disease’s devastating effects. If not managed well, it can cause significant yield loss for growers. RECENT ISSUES Over …
Growers and Representatives Meet in Immokalee
By Ernie Neff State representatives Byron Donalds and Bob Rommel met with citrus and vegetable growers at a Dec. 16 discussion in Immokalee about local agricultural issues. The event was hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Southwest Florida Research and Education Center. Donalds said he wants to be sure IFAS recommendations, on which …
USDA Announces Pilot Insurance Coverage for Hemp Growers
(USDA/RMA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced a new crop insurance option for hemp growers in select counties of 21 states in 2020. The pilot insurance program will provide Actual Production History (APH) coverage under 508(h) Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) for eligible producers in certain counties in Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, …
Fumigation for Soilborne Pathogens in Strawberries
By Ashley Robinson Since the phaseout of methyl bromide, charcoal rot, caused by the pathogen Macrophomina, has become a growing issue for Florida strawberry growers. For years, soil fumigation with methyl bromide was the preferred method to manage soilborne pathogens such as Macrophomina. However, because methyl bromide was categorized as a Class I ozone-depleting substance, its production and use have …
Managing Cucurbit Diseases
By Ernie Neff University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences doctoral student Andrew Shirley suggested ways to control three cucurbit diseases at Florida Ag Expo in November. Shirley is pursuing his degree at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, site of the Expo. He shares highlights of his presentation in an interview with Southeast AgNet’s Tacy Callies. …