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The Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 1020, establishing a state hemp program within the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The historic vote comes after the 2018 federal Farm Bill removed prohibitions on industrial hemp in place since 1937 and authorized states to create hemp programs. Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried, a noted advocate for hemp, cannabis, and medical marijuana, offered the following statement: “Today’s …
By Alison DeLoach Nematodes are known to cause severe damage to growers’ crops in Florida. Don Dickson, a nematologist at the University of Florida (UF), has spent his career helping growers manage nematodes. At a Peach Field Day on April 30 held by the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Dickson presented nematode research. In Florida, there are four …
By Eric Cassiano Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors. As the need for aquaculture increases, the opportunity for several careers develops. Many K-12 schools have identified and addressed this growing need by implementing aquaculture within their curriculums. Island Coast High School (ICHS) in Lee County has one of the largest K-12 aquaculture programs in Florida. It all …
Alabama Extension wants those growing tomatoes and peppers to be aware of bacterial spot, a common disease on the leaves of those two plants. There are several steps growers can take to control and prevent the disease, which involves using multiple management tactics. Controlling the disease with chemicals alone usually results in failure. Steps growers can take include rotating fields …
By Lisa Johnson and Rebecca Dunning Nobody likes to be wasteful, but if it’s costlier to save something than to throw it away, a business owner is going to head for the garbage can. For fruit and vegetable growers, chemical destruction and tilling under are oft-used options near the tail end of a harvest. These practices occur even when product …
According to USTR.gov, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) “writes the rules for global trade.” The TPP trade deal that began with the Obama administration was left unfinished, and now it doesn’t include the United States at all. At the beginning of his presidency, Donald Trump backed out of the TPP, eliminating U.S. involvement in the deal. However, Bill Lane, executive director …
By David Campbell and Danielle Treadwell Peach growers have rediscovered a tool to add to their integrated pest and disease management toolbox — a unique paper bag. Easy to install and remove, the bag has extra durability to withstand wind and rain throughout the season. And if our data is consistent with previous observations, bagging may be affordable for many …
Florida strawberry growers may recognize the man on the cover of the May issue of VSCNews magazine. Dustin Grooms of Fancy Farms in Plant City, Florida, is featured for being a recipient of the 4R Advocate Award. Learn more about his operation and what he did to win the honor in the magazine. Pest management is also discussed in this …
By Alison DeLoach Food safety is a top priority for food scientists in the United States. Govindaraj Dev Kumar, an assistant professor at the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia, is researching the foodborne pathogen salmonella and the threat it poses to food safety. Kumar said there are 2,500 different types of salmonella found in poultry, eggs …
By Alison DeLoach Heat-related illness (HRI) is often overlooked and not taken as seriously as it should be. Agricultural workers can suffer from HRI and be hospitalized if they don’t take preventive measures. Thomas Bernard, a professor in the College of Health at the University of South Florida, spoke on HRI last October at the State of the Science meeting …
