By: Ashley Robinson The July issue of VSCNews magazine focuses on a variety of topics, including machine harvesting of blueberries, strawberry pests and diseases and technology for vegetable production. Blueberry growers and packers are adopting the latest innovations and technology to reduce harvesting costs and put less reliance on contract laborers. Fumiomi Takeda, a research horticulturalist with the United States …
FFVA Accepting Applications for ELDP Class 10
The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association is accepting applications for Class 10 of its Emerging Leader Development Program (ELDP). The deadline for submission is Sept. 1. The program, which launched in 2011, develops leaders to be strong advocates for Florida agriculture. Since then nearly 100 participants have graduated from the program. Sessions and production trips provide a wealth of information …
Bacterial Spot Leaving Mark in Tomato Crops
By Clint Thompson Bacterial spot in tomatoes has been observed in various locations in Alabama, according to Ed Sikora, professor and Extension plant pathologist in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University. He believes the excess rainfall and abnormal temperatures contributed to the disease being more problematic this year.  “I think this year with the moisture we’ve …
Covered in Cover Crops
By Emily Cabrera for UGA CAES News University of Georgia researchers are working on natural solutions to weed problems in row crops as government regulations of chemical herbicides grow stricter. Earlier in June, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals pulled registrations for the use of all dicamba products for row-crop production. The herbicide, which has been around since the …
Grape Producers Need to be Wary of Downy Mildew Disease
By Clint Thompson Grape producers in north Alabama and north Georgia need to be wary of downy mildew disease. It has been confirmed in vonifera grapes in two separate Georgia locations, says Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist. “My hope is that if folks are spraying well, if they’re actually effective in spraying the vines and …
Fried Calls for Statewide Mask Requirement
The News Service of Florida With thousands of additional COVID-19 cases being added each day in Florida, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried called Thursday for a statewide requirement that people wear masks in public places. Many local governments have approved mask requirements as the number of cases has surged this month, but Gov. Ron DeSantis has declined to issue a statewide …
Florida Farmer Accursio Reflects on Challenging Season
By Clint Thompson With the majority of his spring and summer crop harvested and sold, Florida vegetable farmer Sam Accursio reflects on the challenges and struggles he faced this year amid the coronavirus pandemic and Mexico’s daily exports of produce into the U.S. “With our vegetable season, way back to February when things started shutting down and then in March …
Fruit Splits, Yeast Rot Contribute to Tough Year for Blueberry Farmers
By Clint Thompson A difficult year for the blueberry industry, which started in Florida amid the coronavirus pandemic, continued in Georgia. Farmers reported fruit splits and yeast rot in their rabbit-eye blueberry crop. The result was a down year where packing houses closed because of the lack of quality fruit coming in. Excess Rainfall the Culprit? Jonathan Oliver, University of …
Ant Swarms Continue to be Problematic for Hemp Producers
By Clint Thompson Ant damage on young hemp plants remains a problem for growers in the Southeast. Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, fears ants will continue to be a nuisance since hemp plantings will continue through July. “I think it’s going to be a struggle all season long because there’s so many different plantings going in. …
South Carolina Agriculture Entrepreneurs Awarded $125K in Project Funding
South Carolina Department of Agriculture COLUMBIA – Seven agricultural innovators will receive money for their businesses from the South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship (ACRE). Entrepreneurs pitched their businesses to a panel of judges who selected seven to share $125,000 in funding based on their business plans, presentations and demonstrated history of business success. Kara …