(UF/IFAS) — In the home, they seem to appear out of nowhere. A piece of fruit is placed on the kitchen counter, and suddenly there’s a fruit fly. But the bug commonly referred to as a fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, may more accurately be called a vinegar fly, with an appetite for rotting fruits. Instead, it’s a cousin, Drosophila suzukii, also known …
UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Project: Successful Industry Partnership
(UF/IFAS) — The need for private funding for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Industrial Hemp Pilot Project has formed successful partnerships that benefit research and the agriculture industry. “The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) provided funding for equipment and has been a supportive partner by inspecting incoming plant material, but the hemp …
Sneak Peek: February 2020 VSCNews Magazine
It is no secret that today’s growers are faced with many challenges. The February issue of VSCNews magazine explores how growers can meet some of these challenges. To be successful in farming requires a great deal of flexibility, determination and endurance. Vegetable grower Chuck Obern, owner of C&B Farms, Inc., embodies these traits and is highlighted in this month’s issue. …
Georgia Hemp Production on Hold
By Clint Thompson Georgia farmers looking to grow hemp can’t do so without the state legislature first authorizing $800,000 to the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) to oversee hemp production. In response to a hemp production plan submitted by the GDA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) required that the Georgia Legislature appropriate funds for oversight, according to University of …
Managing Spotted Wing Drosophila in Organic Fruit Production
By Ashley Robinson Spotted wing drosophila (SWD), a fruit fly originally from southeast Asia, has emerged as the most devastating pest of small fruits globally. Losses due to SWD can be as high as 100 percent and have been especially devastating for organic producers due to the lack of insecticide options to fend off the pest. RESEARCH PROJECT Researchers are …
High-Performance Computing for Breeding Better Crops
By Tong Geon Lee Vegetable and specialty crop yields have steadily increased throughout the years as a result of advances in genetics and agronomic practices. Nevertheless, a significant improvement in crop performance remains necessary, particularly given the predicted shifts in climate, pathogen outbreaks and other challenges. The continued genetic improvement of crops is, therefore, a focus for crop researchers. During …
Georgia Ag Industry Leaders Recognized
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) recognized several industry leaders during an awards breakfast held at the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference on Jan. 11 in Savannah, Georgia. “What we’ve found out over history is we have a lot of folks in our industry that are recognized at other places — national meetings or …
Georgia Grown Continues to Gain Ground
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Grown program continues to expand every year and highlights products grown in the state, like blueberries, pecans, milk and Vidalia onions. Its presence at events throughout the year, like the Sunbelt Ag Expo, allows the Georgia Department of Agriculture to showcase Georgia grown products, which help make agriculture the No. 1 industry in the state. …
Ag Groups Respond to Senate Passage of USMCA
Yesterday we reported that many agricultural groups were pleased with the signing of the phase-one trade agreement between the United States and China. Today, the trade news continues as the U.S. Senate has passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) by a vote of 89-10. Many agricultural groups also cheered that news. Secretary Perdue Statement on Senate Passage of USMCA (USDA) — …
Advice for Drone Use in Agriculture
By Ashley Robinson Researchers at the University of Georgia (UGA) are studying new ways to help growers analyze their crops with the help of drone technologies. Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are an emerging technology that a variety of companies and industries, including agriculture, are using to analyze various factors. Simerjeet Virk, research engineer at the UGA Tifton campus, …