Whiteflies Vary in Impact in Florida Vegetables This Fall

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According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, whiteflies are varying in impact in vegetables in South and Central Florida. Around the Central Florida area, respondents report that whiteflies remain active in tomato and melons at mostly low numbers.  Growers and scouts in Southwest Florida report that whitefly pressure has declined with recent rains. Scouts report finding mostly low …

Tomato Juice with UF/IFAS-Bred Garden Gem Pleases Palates

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October 21, 2020 By: Brad Buck, bradbuck@ufl.edu Florida-grown tomatoes – particularly the UF/IFAS-bred Garden Gem – pack a tasty punch for tomato juice, new University of Florida research shows. By and large, the biggest market for Florida tomatoes remains food services. They’re not generally harvested for processed products, such as juice, paste and more. But they’re still fresh, whole tomatoes. …

N.C. Pecan Growers Expect Plentiful Crop

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Contact: Dexter Hill, pecan marketing specialistNCDA&CS Marketing Division252-527-7125; dexter.hill@ncagr.gov RALEIGH – After several years of weather-related setbacks, North Carolina pecan growers are reporting a strong crop. That is welcome news for farmers such as Tim Haithcock, who has been growing pecans for over 25 years. “My trees have been heavy,” Haithcock said. “They are looking very, very good with plenty …

Alabama Hemp Growers Dealing With Low Quality Crop

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Hemp harvest is under way in Alabama, but quality may not be what farmers had hoped for in their second year of production. It’s understandable, though, considering the challenges that producers dealt with during the growing season, says Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist. “It’s not fantastic. I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of good quality hemp …

UGA Research Aimed at Protecting Produce Packing Plants from Listeria

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One University of Georgia (UGA) research project in 2021 will be aimed at protecting produce packing plants from Listeria, according to Francisco Diez, Director and Professor at the UGA Center for Food Safety in Griffin, Georgia. The lead investigator is Diez. The grant project is funded by the Center for Produce Safety and covers the entire 2021 year. His objective …

HELM Agro US Launches New Gamma™ Herbicide for Grapes

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Tampa, FL – HELM Agro US, Inc., a global manufacturer of high-quality crop protection and fertilizer products announced that Gamma™ herbicide has received federal registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Gamma is a non-selective PPO-inhibitor herbicide with a novel active ingredient called Tergeo™ for directed postemergence applications in grapes. In product development trials and regulatory studies, Gamma has demonstrated …

Problematic Pests of Florida Strawberries

Web AdminPests, Strawberry, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine

By Sriyanka Lahiri Several arthropod pests occur in strawberries in Florida during the various stages of the crop cycle. Cyclamen mites (Phytonemus pallidus), if present, originate from strawberry nurseries as hitchhikers on transplants. Thankfully, a very small percentage of growers reported a cyclamen mite infestation during the strawberry season of 2019–2020. Soon after planting, armyworms (Spodoptera spp.), twospotted spider mites …

Extension Economist Doesn’t Expect Hemp Acres to Increase in Southeast in 2021

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With hemp harvest beginning across the Southeast, predictions are already being made about what next year’s crop might look like. One Extension economist believes there will not be an acreage increase in 2021. Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension economist Adam Rabinowitz does not expect acres in the Southeast to increase until the market shows significant recovery. “I don’t think …

Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates

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Clemson Extension agents provided updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Weekly Field Update – 10/19/20 Posted on October 19, 2020 by Justin Ballew Coastal Rob Last reports, “As we approach the time where strawberry plants will be delivered, I would urge all growers to inspect plants before planting.  …