By: Ruth Borger, 517-803-7631, rborger@ufl.edu LAKE ALFRED, Fla. — If information is power, Florida citrus growers have a new asset in their fight against citrus greening disease which has been impacting the state’s multi-billion dollar citrus industry. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences statewide citrus program launched a major revision of a website, providing instant access …
What to Look for With Corn Earworm
According to a University of Florida/IFAS blog, the corn earworm is especially concerning to corn and tomato growers. It causes serious damage when it feeds on corn silk and kernels and tomato fruit. In corn, eggs are laid on silk and the caterpillar hatches and feeds on silk and kernels. In tomato, eggs are laid on leaves, flowers or fruit. …
Water Needs Essential for Pecan Trees
Pecan producers will soon enter a critical point in this year’s production season in ensuring their trees have adequate moisture. If the current dry period continues as expected into August, water needs will be even more essential. According to UGA Extension Pecan Management calendar, water needs increase from 120 to 158 gallons per tree per day in July to 300 …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Clemson Extension agents provided updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Statewide Dr. Matt Cutulle reports, “It is always good to control goosegrass even if it is past the critical period for competition with the crop. Lack of late-season control made hand-harvesting tomatoes difficult. Also, there will be …
SE Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference Still Scheduled for January
It is never too early start thinking about next year’s Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference. In the age of the coronavirus pandemic, industry leaders like Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, must start thinking about an event still several months away. “We’re operating on the premise that we’re going to have a show …
Phase One Uncertainty
Rift in Relations Between U.S. and China Leads to Unpredictability in Initial Agreement The Phase One Trade Deal between the U.S. and China was supposed to bolster the agriculture industry. According to a prior Southeast AgNet story, China was to increase its purchases of agricultural products by $32 billion over the next two years. But according to Adam Rabinowitz, Assistant …
How a Citrus Achievement Award Winner Deals with HLB and Diversification
Check out what Steven Callaham of Dundee Citrus Growers Association has to say in this exclusive Q&A.
North Carolina Farmer of the Year is James Lamb
According to the Sunbelt Expo website, this year’s North Carolina Farmer of the Year is James Lamb. Lamb is now eligible for the Swisher Sweets Farmer of the Year award and $15,000 cash prize given to the overall winner, who will be named at this year’s Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia on Oct. 20-22. Lamb was nominated as North …
Watermelon Market Continues to Produce Sweet Results for Farmers
The watermelon market continues to be a sweet success for producers in the Southeast. One South Georgia watermelon farmer attests to the strong season he and his colleagues have had this year. Bill Brim, co-owner of Lewis Taylor Farms, said on July 10 that he is had an “excellent year” with his watermelon crop. “Prices dropped a little bit after …
Do You Use Carbaryl on Citrus or Blueberries?
The Environmental Protection Agency is re-evaluating the risks of Carbaryl for continued registration of this chemical. In order to protect Carbaryl for use, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association is surveying growers on its use. Your data is critically important. Even if you do not use Carbaryl, input is needed. The Cabaryl case study will be presented as part of …