(USTR) — Consistent with recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the field hearings scheduled in Florida and Georgia on April 7 and April 9 by the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Commerce will be postponed and rescheduled at a later date. Interested parties are still encouraged to submit written comments and information …
Bacterial Wilt Disease a New Concern for Florida Blueberry Growers
By Clint Thompson Bacterial wilt disease is a relatively new problem for Florida blueberry farmers, according to Phil Harmon, professor and Extension plant pathologist at the University of Florida. He said that though the ralstonia pathogen, which causes bacterial wilt in other Florida crops like tobacco, tomato and pepper, has been around for more than 100 years, some blueberry producers …
Wet Winter Could Delay Georgia Watermelon Plantings
By Clint Thompson Watermelon producers in South Georgia who were impacted by excessive rainfall in February and early March could see their planting window delayed, according to University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable specialist Andre da Silva. Some farmers could be as much as three weeks behind in preparing to plant this year’s crop, especially due to heavy rains on …
Using Steam for Weed Management
By Ramdas Kanissery and Yiannis Ampatzidis Weeds are a significant problem in horticultural production and must be controlled to maintain good crop yield. Concerns related to non-judicious use of herbicides, which include ground and surface water contamination and pesticide residues in food, have sparked public awareness and restrictions on herbicide use. For these reasons, alternative and integrated systems for weed …
Coronavirus and Consumer Food-Buying Trends
(CFI) — Isolation and social distancing brought on by COVID-19, or coronavirus, are causing unprecedented changes in consumer behavior, according to The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) Consumer Trust Insights Council (CTIC), which brings together food industry thought leaders and social scientists to explore emerging trends. How the food system adapts to these changes is critical.  “Buying patterns have shifted dramatically …
Hemp Advice: Start Small, Be Cautious
There are numerous challenges facing potential growers of industrial hemp in Florida, said Jerry Fankhauser at the recent Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference. Fankhauser is assistant director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station and lead oversight manager of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Industrial Hemp Pilot Project. Researchers involved in the project are looking …
Citrus Meeting Addresses Production Practices
By Clint Thompson Citrus was the focus of an annual meeting held in Quincy, Florida, on March 12. Growers from Florida and Georgia converged at the North Florida Research and Education Center to learn about various citrus management practices for the region. GROWER-GUIDED AGENDA Danielle Sprague, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension agent in Jefferson …
Ask the Expert: A Hemp Crop Insurance Q & A
(USDA) — Ask the Expert is a new series launching on farmers.gov. In this Ask the Expert, Andrew Kowalski answers a few questions about how farmers can use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) hemp pilot program to insure their hemp crop. Kowalski is a risk management specialist with the Risk Management Agency (RMA) based in …
Florida Blueberry Field Day Highlights Industry Advancements
By Ashley Robinson New blueberry varieties, management strategies and industry updates were all hot topics at the Florida Blueberry Growers Association’s (FBGA) spring field day. The sold-out event was held on March 10 at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Plant Science Research and Education Unit (PSREU) in Citra. BLUEBERRY BREEDING GRANT Patricio Munoz, assistant professor …
Mother Nature Impacting Blueberry Production
By Clint Thompson Weather has already played a factor in this year’s blueberry crop production in the Southeast. Farmers need to be wary of potential disease pressure following last week’s excessive rainfall, according to Renee Holland, University of Georgia area Extension blueberry agent in Alma, Georgia. RAINFALL ABOVE AVERAGE “With certain root-rot diseases, rain will actually help move pathogen spores …